jink

American  

[jingk] / dʒɪŋk /

noun

1. jinks, prankish or frolicsome activities.

2. British Dialect.  chink

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jink British  

/ dʒɪŋk /

verb

1. to move swiftly or jerkily or make a quick turn in order to dodge or elude

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noun

1. a jinking movement

Usage

What does jink mean? The noun jink is most often used in the plural form jinks to refer to prankish or mischievous activities.Jinks is rarely used, except for in the much more common term high jinks (also commonly spelled hijinks), which refers to playful, mischievous, or rowdy activity.High jinks usually implies a combination of fun and mischief. Activities that are called high jinks are often silly and mischievous and they may be rowdy, but they’re usually not harmful. They include things like minor pranks or the kinds of activities done during a happily unrestrained celebration. Sometimes, the term refers to a series of silly or chaotic events or interactions. This is especially the case in the phrase high jinks ensue, as in The movie is about a man who has to adopt 11 ostriches—high jinks ensue. However, high jinks is sometimes used in a more negative way to refer to mischief or wrongdoing that’s absurd or incompetent, as in The administration is up to its usual high jinks again—luckily they’re too inept to pull any of it off. The word jink can also be used as a verb meaning to move quickly or in a jerky motion to elude or avoid something. It can also be used as a noun referring to such a movement. These senses of the word are also not commonly used. A much more common word that means the same thing is juke.The plural jinks should not be confused with the word jinx, which can be a noun referring to something that brings bad luck or a verb meaning to bring bad luck to—to place a jinx on.Example: As a substitute teacher, I know exactly what kind of high jinks students will participate in when they think they can get away with it.

Etymology

Origin of jink

1690–1700; variant of dial. chink to gasp violently; compare Old English cincung boisterous laughter

Example Sentences

Leclerc had dropped to eighth on the first lap after a jink to hold off an attack by team-mate Carlos Sainz at the first corner allowed Mercedes' George Russell and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg both past.

From BBC

Ryan Kent was gifted licence to roam the front line, pick up pockets of space, and jink his way into promising positions.

From BBC

That looked like staving off the dreaded record until Conceicao was allowed to jink forward and drill in a third for Ajax.

From BBC

Following further smart stops by Aberdeen keeper Kelle Roos after efforts by Josip Juranovic, O'Riley and Liel Abada, Jota was on hand to jink past his marker and rifle in an unstoppable shot from over 20 yards, polishing off a hard-fought opening victory.

From BBC

“None of Robinson’s contemporaries displayed his ability to start and stop and start and stop and start again, to jink his way past fielders and potential tags, to rattle and embarrass and elude,” writes Kennedy.

From Washington Post