Definition of "chine" [chine]

• The backbone or spine, especially of an animal. (noun)
• A cut of meat containing part of the backbone. (noun)
• A ridge or crest. (noun)
• Nautical The line of intersection between the side and bottom of a flatbottom or V-bottom boat. (noun)
• To cut (a carcass, for example) through the spine, as when butchering. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The two loins together are called the chine or saddle."
• "A chine is a deep crevace (how the hell do you spell that?) caused by running water, there are many of them along this part of the coast."
• "When the boat is at rest, wakes from passing boats slap against the chines and makes a noise called chine gurgle."