chine

1 of 2

noun

ˈchīn 

1

: backbone, spine

also : a cut of meat including all or part of the backbone

2

: the intersection of the bottom and the sides of a flat or V-bottomed boat

chine

2 of 2

verb

chined; chining

transitive verb

: to cut through the backbone of (as in butchering)

Synonyms

Noun

• spine

Examples of chine in a Sentence

Noun

uncovered the chine of some animal while digging in the backyard

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There's a sharp nose with a prominent chine blending the wings into the fuselage, which is optimized for stealth. —New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2025

In fact, Azimut claims the Grande 36M can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent compared to boats of the same size with traditional chine hulls. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French eschine, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scina shinbone, needle — more at shin

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chine

• blanc de chine
• crepe de chine
• crêpe de chine

Rhymes for chine

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• jean
• keen
• lien

Kids Definition

chine

noun

ˈchīn

: backbone sense 1, spine

also : a cut of meat including the backbone or part of it and the surrounding flesh