cinch
UK[sɪntʃ]US[sɪntʃ]
n
A task or achievement that is very easy to accomplish.
n
A strap for holding a saddle or pack in place.
v
To make certain or secure.
Etymology
The word 'cinch' entered English in the mid-19th century from American Spanish 'cincha', meaning 'saddle girth'. This Spanish term itself derives from the Latin 'cingula', a variant of 'cingulum', meaning 'belt' or 'girdle', from the verb 'cingere' (to gird, to surround). The original, literal sense of a securing strap for a saddle gave rise to the figurative meaning of making something secure or certain. From there, the logic evolved further: if something is securely fastened and certain, it is easy and assured, leading to the modern primary meaning of an easy task.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Spanish. Its spelling and form are treated as a single unit in English.
Examples
Passing the first exam was a cinch.
He tightened the cinch before mounting the horse.
The new evidence will cinch the deal for the prosecution.