chink

1
[ chingk ]
/ tʃɪŋk /

noun

a crack, cleft, or fissure: a chink in a wall.
a narrow opening: a chink between two buildings.

verb (used with object)

to fill up chinks in.

Origin of chink

1
1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps chine1 + -k suffix (see -ock)

Definition for chink (2 of 3)

chink 2
[ chingk ]
/ tʃɪŋk /

verb (used with or without object)

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

noun

a chinking sound: the chink of ice in a glass.
Slang. coin or ready cash.

Origin of chink

2
First recorded in 1565–75; imitative

Definition for chink (3 of 3)

Chink
[ chingk ]
/ tʃɪŋk /

noun (sometimes lowercase) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a contemptuous term used to refer to a Chinese person.

Origin of Chink

1900–05; earlier Chinkie apparently alteration of China, Chinese by association with chink1 (from the stereotypical Western image of Chinese as narrow-eyed); see -ie

British Dictionary definitions for chink (1 of 3)

chink 1
/ (tʃɪŋk) /

noun

a small narrow opening, such as a fissure or crack
chink in one's armour a small but fatal weakness

verb

(tr) mainly US and Canadian to fill up or make cracks in

Derived forms of chink

chinky, adjective

Word Origin for chink

C16: perhaps variant of earlier chine, from Old English cine crack; related to Middle Dutch kene, Danish kin

British Dictionary definitions for chink (2 of 3)

chink 2
/ (tʃɪŋk) /

verb

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

noun

such a sound

Word Origin for chink

C16: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for chink (3 of 3)

Chink

taboo Chinky (ˈtʃɪŋkɪ)

/ (tʃɪŋk) /

noun, adjective plural Chinks or Chinkies

an old-fashioned and highly derogatory term for Chinese

Word Origin for Chink

C20: probably from Chinese, influenced by chink 1 (referring to the characteristic shape of the Chinese eye)