chink

1 offensive terms for a person of Chinese descent [syn: Chinaman]

2 a narrow opening as e.g. between planks in a wall

3 a short light metallic sound [syn: click, clink]

1 make or emit a high sound; "tinkling bells" [syn: tinkle, tink, clink]

2 fill the chinks of, as with caulking

3 make cracks or chinks in; "The heat checked the paint" [syn: check]

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Etymology 1

Onomatopoeic.

Noun

chink

1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack
2. A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other
3. A chip or dent (in something metallic)
4. Ready money, especially in the form of coins

Verb

to chink

1. To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.

Etymology 2

Alternation of Chinese.

Noun

(sometimes capitalised)

1. In the context of "ethnic slur|pejorative|slang": A Chinese person

Derived terms

• chinky

Synonyms

• chinaman

Translations

• French: chinetoque

Chink is an ethnic slur for any person of Chinese descent. It is also commonly used to insult people of general East Asian descent. The word "Chinkland" may also be used to refer to China or the Asian continent as a whole. Chink may also mean a small crevice or opening, often referring to a weakness, such as a "chink in the armor"but also in purely descriptive contexts such as a chink between two bricks. The latter term is uncontroversial, since it predates the ethnic slur, though the slur may have origins from the original meaning. The usage of the word as an ethnic slur has sparked contemporary controversies in public and popular media.

Etymology and history

• Ching Chong
• Jap
• Nip
• Gook
• Shina (word)

Notes

References

• Foster, Harry. A Beachcomber in the Orient. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1930.

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