7. To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.
SINK
Sink, n.
1. A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.
2. A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen.
3. A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; — called also sink hole. [U. S.] Sink hole. (a) The opening to a sink drain. (b) A cesspool. (c) Same as Sink, n., 3.
SINKER
Sink"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, sinks. Specifically: (a) A weight on something, as on a fish line, to sink it. (b) In knitting machines, one of the thin plates, blades, or other devices, that depress the loops upon or between the needles. Dividing sinker, in knitting machines, a sinker between two jack sinkers and acting alternately with them. — Jack sinker. See under Jack, n. — Sinker bar. (a) In knitting machines, a bar to which one set of the sinkers is attached. (b) In deep well boring, a heavy bar forming a connection between the lifting rope and the boring tools, above the jars.
SINKING
Sink"ing, a & n.
Defn: from Sink. Sinking fund. See under Fund. — Sinking head (Founding), a riser from which the mold is fed as the casting shrinks. See Riser, n., 4. — Sinking pump, a pump which can be lowered in a well or a mine shaft as the level of the water sinks.
SINLESS
Sin"less, a.