1 C1 neutral
To fill cracks or gaps in a wall, fence, or log structure with mortar, clay, or another material.
"Before winter arrived, they chinkied up the old cabin walls with fresh mortar."
separable
chink up
C1 neutral separable transitive
To fill or seal the cracks and gaps in a wall, structure, or surface.
In plain English
To stuff material into small cracks or holes to close them up, especially in a wall or fence.
What does "chink up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill up the chinks (narrow cracks or gaps) — transparent in its construction context.
Actually means
To stuff material into small cracks or holes to close them up, especially in a wall or fence.
Usage tip
A technical or practical term used in construction, masonry, and log-cabin building. 'Chinking' is the material used to fill gaps between logs. Rarely heard outside of specific trades or historical contexts. Note: 'chink' also exists as a racial slur (ethnic slur against East Asian people); in this entirely separate sense it is a standard construction term meaning a narrow gap or crack.
Words that pair with "chink up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wall logs gaps mortar cracks cabin
How to conjugate "chink up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
chink up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chinks up
he/she/it
Past simple
chinked up
yesterday
Past participle
chinked up
have + pp
-ing form
chinking up
continuous
Hear "chink up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "chink up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "chink up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.