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Chink

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chink¹

  • /t͡ʃɪŋk/ UK, US

Rhymes with -ɪŋk

Where it comes from

Of uncertain origin, but apparently an extension, with diminutive -k (see more at -ock), of Middle English chine (or, if already suffixed in Middle English, *chinek), from Old English ċine (“a crack, chine, chink”), equivalent to chine + -k.

noun chinks

  1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack. What a pity they didn’t stop up the chinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there.
  2. A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening. I noticed a chink of light under the door.
  3. A chip or dent in something metallic. The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.
  4. figuratively A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system. The chink in the theory is that the invaders have superior muskets.

verb chinks · chinking · chinked

  1. transitive To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk. to chink a wall
  2. intransitive To crack; to open.
  3. transitive To cause to open in cracks or fissures.

chink²

  • /t͡ʃɪŋk/ UK, US

Rhymes with -ɪŋk

Where it comes from

Onomatopoeic.

noun chinks

  1. countable A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other; a clink. She swallow, set the cup down like she want to break it, and the ice-blocks jump, make a chink sound.
  2. archaic, colloquial, dated, uncountable Ready money, especially in the form of coins. to leave his chink to better hands

verb chinks · chinking · chinked

  1. intransitive To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching. The coins were chinking in his pocket.
  2. transitive To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other. He chinks his purse

chink³

  • /t͡ʃɪŋk/ UK, US

Rhymes with -ɪŋk

noun chinks

  1. alternative Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).kink

verb chinks · chinking · chinked

  1. alternative Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).kink

chink⁴

  • /t͡ʃɪŋk/ UK, US

Rhymes with -ɪŋk

noun chinks

  1. Alternative letter-case form of Chink.Chink

Chink⁵

  • /t͡ʃɪŋk/

Rhymes with -ɪŋk

Where it comes from

There are several possible origins of the term:

* From the Chinese courtesy ching-ching, a reduplication of Mandarin 請 /请 (qǐng, “please”). Compare chin-chin, Italian cincin, Portuguese tchim-tchim, tim-tim, Spanish chinchín, French tchin-tchin.

* From the alteration of China.

* From the alteration of Qing (also spelled Ch'ing).

See also Hokkien 親家 /亲家 (chhin-ke, “any relative by marriage (to a Chinese family)”).

noun Chinks · chink

  1. derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur A person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent. Then her eyes, always alert for the affairs of her kitchen, fell on some action of the Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval. She turned on him with a torrent of abuse. The Chink was not backward to defend himself, and a very lively quarrel ensued.
  2. broadly, derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur A person of perceived East Asian descent.
  3. ethnic, offensive, slur A meal of Chinese food. Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!

Similar: Chinaman, gook, ching chong

adjective more Chink · most Chink · chink

  1. derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur Chinese, or perceived to be Chinese.
  2. derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur East Asian.

proper noun chink

  1. derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur The Chinese language. > >I see you are trying to post in chink. Ha!! Ha!! > > No, that was an English translation of your post. Your^([sic]) a fishhead Ha!! Ha!!

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