chink

plural chinks

1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.

   Through one cloudless chink, in a black, stormy sky, / Shines out the dewy morning star.

   1834–1838 (date written), Thomas Babington Macaulay, “(please specify the page)”, in Lays of Ancient Rome, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, […], published 1842, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   What a pity they didn’t stop up the chinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 2, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 10

   Yet I did not give way, but settled to wait for the dawn, which must, I knew, be now at hand; for then I thought enough light would come through the chinks of the tomb above to show me how to set to work.

   [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC

   Synonyms: aperture

   1. A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening.

      I noticed a chink of light under the door.

      1 more example

      A chink of light offering a possible settlement to one part of the rail dispute comes as the RMT is to ballot its members at Network Rail on whether to accept an improved offer.

      2023 March 22, Mel Holley, “Network News: RMT to ballot Network Rail members on improved offer”, in RAIL, number 979, page 12

      Synonyms: aperture

2. A chip or dent in something metallic.

   The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.

3. figurativelyA 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.

   1 more example

   The first chink in Arsenal's relaxed afternoon occurred when key midfielder Samir Nasri pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced.

   2011 January 30, Kevin Darling, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Huddersfield”, in BBC

present singular third person chinks · participle present chinking · participle past chinked · past chinked

1. transitiveTo fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.

   to chink a wall

   2 more examples

   Our log-house quarters, however, were closely "chinked and daubed," and we passed a dry and comfortable night.

   1844, George W. Kendall, Narrative of the Santa Fé Expedition, Comprising a Description of a Tour through Texas, and Across the Great Southwestern Prairies, the Camanche and Cayüga Hunting-Grounds, with an Account of the Sufferings from Want of Food, Losses from Hostile Indians, and Final Capture of the Texans, and Their March, As Prisoners to the City of Mexico, Harper and Brothers, page 25

   He set out to chink the cracks of the lean-to, built that spring for Miss Charlotte’s bedroom.

   1950, Dorothy M. Johnson, Prairie Kid; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 49

2. intransitiveTo crack; to open.
3. transitiveTo cause to open in cracks or fissures.

plural chinks

1. countableA 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.

   2020, Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice, Sceptre, page 138

2. archaiccolloquialdateduncountableReady money, especially in the form of coins.

   to leave his chink to better hands

   1727, William Somerville, Occasional Poems, "The Fortune-Hunter"

   3 more examples

   I thought that if all the hills about there were pure chink, and all belonged to me, I would give them if I could just talk to her when I wanted to […]

   1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska, published 1987, pages 47–8

   At the same time, mind, I must have a bit of a frolic occasionally, for that's all the pleasure I has, when I gets a little chink in my becket; and ye know, too, that I don t care much for that stuff, for a dollar goes with me as fur as a gold ounce does with you, when ye put on your grand airs, and shower it about like a nabob.

   1855, Henry Augustus Wise, Tales for the Marines, page 121

   "I believe I could make a pudding that wasn't plain, if I tried," Alice said. "Why shouldn't we?" "No chink," said Oswald, with brief sadness. "How much would it cost?" Noël asked, and added that Dora had twopence and H.O. had a French halfpenny.

   1904, E[dith] Nesbit, “(please specify the page)”, in New Treasure Seekers, London: Ernest Benn, →OCLC

present singular third person chinks · participle present chinking · participle past chinked · past chinked

1. intransitiveTo make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.

   The coins were chinking in his pocket.

2. transitiveTo 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

   1728, [Alexander Pope], “Book the First”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC, page 2

plural chinks

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

present singular third person chinks · participle present chinking · participle past chinked · past chinked

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

plural chinks

1. Alternative letter-case form of Chink.

plural Chinks · alternative chink

1. derogatoryethnicoffensiveslurA person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent.

   [Ignatz Mouse:] A new Chink in town, and acting mighty queer too – I suspect foul play.

   1920 October 17, George Herriman, Krazy Kat, comic strip

   2 more examples

   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.

   1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 51”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC

   He scratched his head. "Well, damn me," said he. "I never thought I would take orders from a Chink, but he says 'hist!' and by crums you've got to hist and no back talk either."

   1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019

2. broadlyderogatoryethnicoffensiveslurA person of perceived East Asian descent.
3. ethnicoffensiveslurA 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!

   1995, “Daddy's on the Drink” (track 12), in Shame-Based Man, performed by Bruce McCulloch

   Synonyms: chinky

comparative more Chink · superlative most Chink · alternative chink

1. derogatoryethnicoffensiveslurChinese, or perceived to be Chinese.
2. derogatoryethnicoffensiveslurEast Asian.

alternative chink

1. derogatoryethnicoffensiveslurThe 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!!

   2004 June 29, Cerberus, “Papers Please!”, in ok.general (Usenet)