chink

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin, but apparently an extension (with formative -k) of Middle English chine, from Old English ċine (“a crack, chine, chink”), equivalent to chine + -k. Alternatively, the -k may represent an earlier unrecorded diminutive, perhaps from Middle English *chinek, making it equivalent to chine + -ock (diminutive ending).

noun

1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.
   1. A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening.
      I noticed a chink of light under the door.
      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. March 22 2023, Mel Holley, “Network News: RMT to ballot Network Rail members on improved offer”, in RAIL, number 979, page 12
2. A chip or dent in something metallic.
   The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.
3. (figurative) 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. January 30, 2011, Kevin Darling, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Huddersfield”, in BBC

verb

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.

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic.

noun

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. 2020, Abi Daré, The Girl With The Louding Voice, Sceptre, page 138
2. (uncountable, colloquial, dated, now rare) Ready money, especially in the form of coins.
   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"
   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

verb

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.

Etymology 3

noun

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

verb

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

Etymology 4

noun

1. Alternative letter-case form of Chink