brink

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

brink, n. [Dan. brink edge, verge; akin to Sw. brink declivity, hill, Icel. brekka; cf. LG. brink a grassy hill, W. bryn hill, bryncyn hillock.].

 The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a precipice; a bank or edge, as of a river or pit; a verge; a border; as, the brink of a chasm. Also Fig.  [1913 Webster]
"The plashy brink of weedy lake."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

brink, n.
1 the extreme edge of land before a precipice, river, etc., esp. when a sudden drop follows.
2 the furthest point before something dangerous or exciting is discovered.

Idiom

on the brink of about to experience or suffer; in imminent danger of.

Etymology

ME f. ON: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

brink

bank, board, border, bordure, brim, brow, coast, edge, featheredge, flange, frame, fringe, hem, labellum, labium, labrum, ledge, limb, limbus, lip, list, marge, margin, perimeter, periphery, point, ragged edge, rim, selvage, shore, side, sideline, skirt, threshold, verge

ROGET THESAURUS

brink

Edge

N edge, verge, brink, brow, brim, margin, border, confine, skirt, rim, flange, side, mouth, jaws, chops, chaps, fauces, lip, muzzle, threshold, door, porch, portal, coast, shore, frame, fringe, flounce, frill, list, trimming, edging, skirting, hem, selvedge, welt, furbelow, valance, gimp, border, marginal, skirting, labial, labiated, marginated.