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.
Meanings
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:
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:
A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack. ▸ A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening.
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:
I noticed a chink of light under the door.
A chip or dent in something metallic.
The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.
(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.
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:
uk шпарина (narrow opening) · ang ċine (chip or dent in something metallic) · es rendija (narrow opening) · ga scáineadh (narrow opening) · ota آرالق (narrow opening) · fi rakonen (narrow opening) · es fisura (narrow opening) · grc ῥώξ (narrow opening) · de Spalt (narrow opening) · de Delle (chip or dent in something metallic) · bg цепнатина (narrow opening) · mi kūwatawata (a narrow beam or patch of light coming through a gap) · pl szczelina (narrow opening) · ru тре́щина (narrow opening) · bg пролука (narrow opening) · de Spalte (narrow opening) · uk тріщина (narrow opening) · pl szpara (narrow opening) · mi riwhariwha (narrow opening) · mi matata (narrow opening) · de Ritze (narrow opening) · ru скол (chip or dent in something metallic) · de Beule (chip or dent in something metallic) · tr çatlak (chip or dent in something metallic) · fi rako (narrow opening) · mi piere (narrow opening) · fi naarmu (chip or dent in something metallic) · mi haeatatanga (a narrow beam or patch of light coming through a gap) · ru щель (narrow opening) · ru цара́пина (chip or dent in something metallic) · uk щілина (narrow opening) · tr yarık (chip or dent in something metallic) · mi matatatanga (narrow opening) · de Riss (narrow opening) · ota چاك (narrow opening)
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.
Meanings
(transitive) To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.
to chink a wall
(intransitive) To crack; to open.
(transitive) To cause to open in cracks or fissures.
de kalfatern (to fill an opening) · de verstopfen (to fill an opening) · de ausfüllen (to fill an opening) · bg запушвам пукнатини (to fill an opening) · ru затыка́ть (to fill an opening) · es rellenar (to fill an opening) · de ausstopfen (to fill an opening) · ru замазывать (to fill an opening) · fi tilkitä (to fill an opening)
(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. 2020, Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice, Sceptre, page 138:
(archaic, colloquial, dated, uncountable) Ready money, especially in the form of coins.
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 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:
to leave his chink to better hands 1727, William Somerville, Occasional Poems, "The Fortune-Hunter":
"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:
bg пари (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · fi kilahtelu (slight sound) · es monedas (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · de Bargeld (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · de Zaster (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · de Klang (slight sound) · de Moneten (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · de Klirren (slight sound) · fi kilahdus (slight sound) · fi helinä (slight sound) · fi kilisevä (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · fi helähdys (slight sound) · de Klingen (slight sound) · bg монети (ready money, especially in the form of coins) · fi helähtely (slight sound) · de Klimpern (slight sound) · fi kilinä (slight sound) · bg дрънкане (slight sound) · ru побрякивание (slight sound)
(intransitive) To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.
The coins were chinking in his pocket.
(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 1728, [Alexander Pope], “Book the First”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC, page 2:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
chinks
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
chinking
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
chinked
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
chinked
Tense=Past
lexicographic
Translations (13)
fi helähdellä (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · bg дрънкам (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · fi kilahtaa (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · fi kilistä (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · ru звене́ть (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · bg звънтя (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · de klingen (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · de klirren (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · fi helähtää (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · fi helistä (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · de klimpern (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · de anstoßen (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching) · fi kilahdella (to make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching)