clang
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology
1570, of imitative origin; Compare also Saterland Frisian Kloang, West Frisian klank, Dutch klank, German Klang (from klingen), Danish and Swedish klang, Latin clangere.
Pronunciation
Noun
clang (plural clangs)
- A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
- 1969, Paul McCartney (lyrics and music), “Maxwell's Silver Hammer”, in Abbey Road, performed by The Beatles:
- 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.
- (psychology, psychiatry) A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
- 1973, Oliver Sacks, Awakenings:
- 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 […]
- (music) Alternative form of klang
Translations
loud ringing sound
|
cry of crane, goose, etc
|
Verb
clang (third-person singular simple present clangs, present participle clanging, simple past and past participle clanged)
- (transitive) To strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang.
- a. 1722 (date written), Matthew Prior, “The First Hymn of Callimachus. To Jupiter.”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], Edinburgh: James Nichol, […], published 1858, →OCLC, page 207, lines 58–60:
- Around, the first Curetes (order solemn / To thy foreknowing mother!) trod tumultuous / Their mystic dance, and clanged their sounding arms; [...]
- (intransitive) To give out a clang; to resound.
- 2015 May 25, Daniel Taylor, “Norwich reach Premier League after early blitz sees off Middlesbrough”, in The Guardian (London):
- 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 off the crossbar. They should not dwell on that moment too long, however.
- 1933, Norvell Page, Wings of the Black Death:
- A cell door clanged metallically and Wentworth was flung inside. He tripped, collapsed upon the concrete floor.
- 1920, Edith Wharton, chapter XXIX, in The Age of Innocence:
- The clanging and groaning of the train came nearer, and it staggered slowly into the station like a prey- laden monster into its lair.
- 1917, Rose Wilder Lane, Henry Ford’s Own Story:
- Then the sparks flew from the anvil while the great hammer clanged on the metal, shaping it, and Henry begged to be allowed to try it
- (psychology, psychiatry) To utter a word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
Derived terms
Translations
transitive: strike (objects) together to produce a clang
Interjection
clang
- Imitative of a loud metallic ringing sound.
- (humorous) Said after someone has name-dropped (mentioned a famous person with whom they are acquainted).
Pronunciation
Verb
clang
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