Emily Dickinson Lexicon

KINK, n. [Sw. kink, D. kink, a bend or turn. Qu. L. cingo.]

The twist of a rope or thread, occasioned by a spontaneous winding of the rope or thread when doubled, that is, by an effort of hard twisted ropes or threads to untwist, they wind about each other. The packthread will curl up, running into loops or kinks. – Encyc. Art. Rope.