chink

¹ American  

[chingk] / tʃɪŋk /

noun

1. a crack, cleft, or fissure.

   a chink in a wall.

   Synonyms:

   cut , rent , breach

2. a narrow opening.

   a chink between two buildings.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fill up chinks in.

chink ² American  

[chingk] / tʃɪŋk /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make, or cause to make, a short, sharp, ringing sound, as of coins or glasses striking together.

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noun

1. a chinking sound.

   the chink of ice in a glass.

2. Slang.  coin or ready cash.

Chink ³ American  

[chingk] / tʃɪŋk /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Chinese person.

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chink ¹ British  

/ tʃɪŋk /

noun

1. a small narrow opening, such as a fissure or crack

2. a small but fatal weakness

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verb

1. (tr) to fill up or make cracks in

chink ² British  

/ tʃɪŋk /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a light ringing sound, as by the striking of glasses or coins

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noun

1. such a sound

Chink ³ British  

/ ˈtʃɪŋkɪ, tʃɪŋk /

noun

1. an old-fashioned and highly derogatory term for Chinese

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Other Word Forms

• chinky adjective

Etymology

Origin of chink¹

1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps chine ¹ + -k suffix ( -ock )

Origin of chink²

First recorded in 1565–75; imitative

Origin of Chink³

1900–05; earlier Chinkie apparently alteration of China, Chinese by association with chink ¹ (from the stereotypical Western image of Chinese as narrow-eyed); -ie

Example Sentences

If there is a chink in McCartney’s armor, we are still looking for it.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a night in which teams in the powerful Trinity League showed a chink in their armor.

From Los Angeles Times

But if you looked more closely, there were chinks in the armour.

From BBC

McLaren's one chink of light in the race was the pit stops.

From BBC

“It’s a chink out of our system of government to villainize law firms like this.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crevice
• fissure