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Added 9 October 2026

chink

/t͡ʃɪŋk/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about chink at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent.
A narrow opening as e.g. between planks in a wall.
A short light metallic sound.

verb

Make or emit a high sound.
tinkling bells
Fill the chinks of, as with caulking.
Make cracks or chinks in.
The heat checked the paint

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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