Words: chine [AHED]

NOUN: 1a. The backbone or spine, especially of an animal. b. A cut of meat containing part of the backbone. 2. A ridge or crest. 3. Nautical The line of intersection between the side and bottom of a flatbottom or V-bottom boat.
TRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: chined, chin·ing, chines
To cut (a carcass, for example) through the spine, as when butchering.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old French eschine, of Germanic origin.