/klæŋ/
Origin1570, of imitative origin.
Compare also Saterland Frisian Kloang, West Frisian klank, Dutch klank, German Klang (from klingen), Danish and Swedish klang, Latin clangere (“to resound”) (which probably influenced it).
- A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
“Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon her head
Clang, clang, Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead”
- Quality of tone.
- The cry of some birds, including the crane and the goose.
- A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
“For much of this day, Mrs Y. wrote in her diary, covering page after page in a rapid scrawl full of paligraphic repetitions, puns, clangs, and violent, perseverative crossings-out […]”
- transitiveTo strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang.
“Around, the first Curetes (order solemn / To thy foreknowing mother!) trod tumultuous / Their mystic dance, and clanged their sounding arms; [...]”
“A dented metal punching bag waiting to be clanged; a solitary object in the rhino's cage.”
- intransitiveTo give out a clang; to resound.
“Middlesbrough will wonder whether it might have been different if the volley that Jelle Vossen slashed towards John Ruddy’s net after nine minutes had been a couple inches lower rather than clanging o”
“A cell door clanged metallically and Wentworth was flung inside. He tripped, collapsed upon the concrete floor.”
“The clanging and groaning of the train came nearer, and it staggered slowly into the station like a prey- laden monster into its lair.”
- To utter a word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
- Imitative of a loud metallic ringing sound.
- humorousSaid after someone has name-dropped (mentioned a famous person with whom they are acquainted).
Formsclangs(plural) · clangs(present, singular, third-person) · clanging(participle, present) · clanged(participle, past) · clanged(past)