jink
/d͡ʒɪŋk/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.49 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A jack or knucklebone used in the game of jinks (possibly derived from the Scottish game high jinks).
verb
To make a quick evasive turn or turns to confuse pursuers, incoming fire, etc.
Intransitive verb
Example Sentences
- "But faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin, / An' cheat you yet."
- "Do not jink. This serves no purpose and will only spoil your run in."
- "A man on skis was coming fast after him. […] Bond […] gave a deep sigh of anger, and put on all the speed he could, crouching low and jinking occasionally to spoil the man's aim."
- "As the Gunners attacked in unrelenting waves of red the opportunities started to fall their way, as the outstanding Wilshere fired at Hart and then Van Persie jinked into space only to see his arrow-like 18-yard left-foot rocket shot cannon back off the base of Hart's right-hand post."
- "Jink it he did. Norton pushed the aircraft left just as he was at the bottom of his loop."
- "So they put on a bit of extra pace and were nearly through that section when they heard voices coming out of a clump of bushes and the sound of plates being jinked together."
Etymology
Origin uncertain. The Oxford English Dictionary suggests onomatopoeia for motion. Attested since the 18th century. Compare unnasalised dialectal jick (“to avoid with a sudden jerk of the body, elude”).