chin-chin

Interjection

1. (dated) A salutation, especially a drinking toast.
   • The two junior members of the Chinese deputation came at the appointed hour. . . . On entering the door of the marquee they both made an abrupt stop, and resisted all solicitation to advance to chairs that had been prepared for them, until I should first be seated; in this dilemma, Dr. Buchanan...1795, Michael Symes, An Account of an Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava, page 295

Verb

chin-chin (third-person singular simple present chin-chins, present participle chin-chinning, simple past and past participle chin-chinned)

1. (dated, transitive) To greet; to toast.
   • She ‘chin-chins’ the captain... and then nods her pretty head.1859, All the Year Round, number I, page 18
2. (dated, intransitive) To say 'chin-chin'.
   • We ‘chin-chinned’ over foaming beakers.1892 Sept, The Cornhill Magazine, page 268
   • For the sake of appearances we chin-chinned and tried to look gay.1966, Widow Hack, page 164

Noun

chin-chin (countable and uncountable, plural chin-chins)

1. (US, archaic, informal) Discussion, conversation, talk.
   • I haven't had so much chin-chin for years.1877, Mark Twain, letter published in Love Letters (1949), p. 198
   • Mum and Mrs. Martin had a good chin-chin at the fence about sickness and husbands.1947, Coast to Coast, page 136