chalkiness (chakines)

[ chalk-line (châk lin), n. 1. A light cord rubbed with chalk and stretched over a surface to mark a straight line. When stretched, it is pulled upward and allowed to spring down by its elasticity, and thus marks a line of chalk on the surface, to serve as a guide, as for a needle or a saw. 2. A vulgar name of the small green heron of the United States, But or ides virescens: so called in allusion to the white excrement voided when the bird starts to fly.