chine

¹

[chahyn]

noun

British Dialect.

1. a ravine formed in rock by the action of running water.

chine

²

[chahyn]

noun

1. the backbone or spine, especially of an animal.

2. the whole or a piece of the backbone of an animal with adjoining parts, cut for cooking.

3. a ridge or crest, as of land.

4. Nautical.

   1. an angular intersection of the sides and bottom of a vessel.

   2. a longitudinal member running behind this.

verb (used with object)

chined, chining 

1. (in butchering) to sever the backbone of.

chine

³

[chahyn]

noun

1. chime.

chiné

⁴

[shee-ney]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a fabric having a variegated pattern produced by warp threads that have been dyed, printed, or painted before weaving.

chine

¹

/ tʃaɪn /

noun

1. the backbone

2. the backbone of an animal with adjoining meat, cut for cooking

3. a ridge or crest of land

4. (in some boats) a corner-like intersection where the bottom meets the side

verb

1. (tr) to cut (meat) along or across the backbone

chine

²

/ tʃaɪn /

noun

1. another word for chime 2

chine

³

/ tʃaɪn /

noun

1. dialect,  a deep fissure in the wall of a cliff

chiné

⁴

/ ˈʃiːneɪ /

adjective

1. textiles having a mottled pattern

Word History and Origins

Origin of chine¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English chine, chinne, chin, Old English cīne, cȳne “crevice, fissure”; cognate with Middle Dutch kēne; compare Old English cīnan “to gape, crack open”

Origin of chine²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English chine, schine, Anglo-French achine, from Old French eschine, from Germanic; shin ¹

Origin of chine³

1850–55; < French, past participle of chiner, verbal derivative of Chine China

Word History and Origins

Origin of chine¹

C14: from Old French eschine, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scina needle, shinbone; see _shin ¹

Origin of chine²

Old English cīnan to crack

Origin of chine³

C19: from French chiner to make in the Chinese fashion, from Chine China

Related Words

• carve 
• divide 
• rip 
• slash 
• slice