chinse v also chinch, chintz [phonetics unavailable]. Cp OED ~ v 2 'to caulk'; chynchinge (1513), chincing (1748) for sense 1; O Sup² ~ (Nfld: 1770) for sense 2.
   1 To caulk the seams of a boat; CARK* v.
   1920 GRENFELL & SPALDING 151 To stop a boat leaking you 'chinch' the seams with oakum. T 139/40-65 They found a old punt there. And he cut up his jacket [and] chinksed the seams as well as he could. C 71-32 Chinch—to caulk the seams of a boat [with] oakum.
   2 To fill the interstices of a log house with MOSS; STOG.
   [1770] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 24 Fogarty chinsed the storehouse with moss. 1863 MORETON 82 The chinks between the sticks of which the walls [of the tilt] are made are caulked, or as these people say, chintzed, with moss. P 65-64 Studded camps have seams between the studs. These seams are 'chinched' with moss. A chinched camp is a camp whose seams have been filled in. 1972 MURRAY 181 These [studs] were placed upright, side by side, to form the walls. The narrow spaces between were 'chinched' with moss or wood shavings—anything that would keep out draughts.
   3 To stow, stuff or pack tightly; cp BLOCKED.
   1920 GRENFELL & SPALDING 151 Our fisherman sexton has just told me that 'the church was right chinched last night'. T 141/66-65² My son, she was chinched! M 71-117 ... to haul a load of kindling chaff (chips), obtainable at any sawmill at 2¢ per oat-bag 'chinched' full. P 209-73 Chinch—to stow fish tightly.

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