English word origin

Etymology of chink

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”), equi

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

noun

A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack. · A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening. · A chip or dent in something metallic. · A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system.

verb

To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk. · To crack; to open. · To cause to open in cracks or fissures.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionchineenm
Inherited-form mentionċineang · a crack, chine, chink

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "expansion": "uncertain"
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      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "chine"
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    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
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        "2": "ang",
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    },
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      "-k#English"
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      "-ock",
      "-ock#English"
    ],
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    ],
    [
      "*chinek",
      "Reconstruction:Middle English/chinek"
    ],
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      "ċine",
      "cine#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "chine",
      "chine#English"
    ],
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      "-k",
      "-k#English"
    ]
  ],
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      "glosses": [
        "A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.",
        "A narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening.",
        "A chip or dent in something metallic.",
        "A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system."
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      ],
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

noun

A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other; a clink. · Ready money, especially in the form of coins.

verb

To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching. · To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Onomatopoeic.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

noun

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

verb

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

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

No narrative was extracted for this section. Available source templates and references appear below; no ancestor chain has been invented to fill the gap.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for chink →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-Y2hpbms