chink

noun

1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.

   “What a pity they didn’t stop up the chinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there.”

   “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.”

   “Through one cloudless chink, in a black, stormy sky, / Shines out the dewy morning star.”

2. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.

   “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.”

3. A chip or dent in something metallic.

   “The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.”

4. (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.”

5. (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.”

6. (archaic, colloquial, dated, uncountable)Ready money, especially in the form of coins.

   “to leave his chink to better hands”

   “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 […]”

   “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.”

   “"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.”

7. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).
8. (alt-of)Alternative letter-case form of Chink.
9. (derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur)A person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent.

   “Then her eyes, always alert for the affairs of her kitchen, fell on some action of the Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval. She turned on him with a torrent of abuse. The Chink was not backward to defend himself, and a very lively quarrel ensued.”

   “[Ignatz Mouse:] A new Chink in town, and acting mighty queer too – I suspect foul play.”

   “He scratched his head. "Well, damn me," said he. "I never thought I would take orders from a Chink, but he says 'hist!' and by crums you've got to hist and no back talk either."”

10. (broadly, derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur)A person of perceived East Asian descent.
11. (ethnic, offensive, slur)A meal of Chinese food.

    “Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!”

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.
4. (intransitive)To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.

   “The coins were chinking in his pocket.”

5. (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”

6. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).

adj

1. (derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur)Chinese, or perceived to be Chinese.
2. (derogatory, ethnic, offensive, slur)East Asian.