Definition of jink
intransitive verb
: to move quickly or unexpectedly with sudden turns and shifts (as in dodging)
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Examples of jink in a Sentence
jinking here and there with remarkable agility, the thieving urchin frustrated all attempts to catch him
Did You Know?
The investigation into the origins of jink begins with documents from 18th century Scotland. Unfortunately, they contain no clear indication of how this shifty little word was formed. What can be said with certainty is that the word has always expressed a quick or unexpected motion. For instance, in two poems from 1785, Robert Burns uses the verb to indicate both the quick motion of a fiddler's elbow and the sudden disappearance of a cheat around a corner. In the 20th century, the verb caught on with air force pilots and rugby players, who began using it to describe their elusive maneuvers to dodge opponents and enemies. Jink can also be used as a noun meaning "a quick evasive turn" or, in its plural form, "pranks." (Etymologists are quite certain that the latter use is connected with the term high jinks.)
Origin and Etymology of jink
origin unknown
jink
Definition of jink
1 : a quick evasive turn : slip
2 jinks plural : pranks, frolics; especially : high jinks
Recent Examples of jink from the Web
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Those beach trips weren’t entirely rum drinks and high jinks: McKinley’s mid-’70s portfolios, many shot in tropical locales, were striking in their own right, with the engorged colors and strobey sexiness of early Roxy Music album covers.
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Connecticut Repertory Theatre has assembled a confident, contortionist cast to attempt this high-wire act of low-brow high jinks.
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All of their high jinks and the time spent on creating the comic books have attracted the wrath of the school’s principal, Mr. Krupp (Ed Helms).
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Stone is eager to be at the center of political high jinks.
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The Heffleys are forced to endure a series of relentless, ever-escalating high jinks, including a recurring thread pitting them against another family where neither comes out looking good, and one with a pig just to make things extra crazy.
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Just look at what happened with Nomi’s sister’s wedding and imagine the high jinks that could ensue at Nomi’s.
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While there, the two are kidnapped, leading to high jinks — and charges of ethnic stereotyping against the comedian on social media.
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Instead, there’s mostly just greenroom high jinks and crisscrossing romantic dilemmas that only faintly reverberate with the events of Coward’s play.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jink.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of jink
1786
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See words that rhyme with jink Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for jink
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