clink

¹

[klingk]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or cause to make a light, sharp, ringing sound.

   The coins clinked together. He clinked the fork against a glass.

noun

1. a clinking sound.

2. Metallurgy.,  a small crack in a steel ingot resulting from uneven expanding or contracting.

3. a pointed steel bar for breaking up road surfaces.

4. Archaic.,  a rhyme; jingle.

clink

²

[klingk]

noun

Slang.

1. a prison; jail; lockup.

clink

¹

/ klɪŋk /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a light and sharply ringing sound

noun

1. a light and sharply ringing sound

2. a pointed steel tool used for breaking up the surface of a road before it is repaired

clink

²

/ klɪŋk /

noun

1. a slang word for prison

Word History and Origins

Origin of clink¹

1275–1325; Middle English clinken, perhaps < Middle Dutch clinken to sound, ring, resound

Origin of clink²

1505–15; after Clink, name of prison in Southwark, London, perhaps < Dutch klink door-latch

Word History and Origins

Origin of clink¹

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch klinken; related to Old Low German chlanch, German Klang sound

Origin of clink²

C16: after Clink, name of a prison in Southwark, London

Example Sentences

Jars clink when they’re stacked, metal scoops scrape against bins and the air carries the overlapping scents of a thousand kitchens.

From Salon

At first, the ladies are all giggles and clinking wine glasses, celebrating the fact that they’ve finally found time to connect.

From Salon

Naturally, things go awry and Emily almost succeeds in offing Stephanie to keep her secret, only to be foiled at the last minute and hauled off to the clink.

From Salon

At first, the ladies are all giggles and clinking wine, celebrating the fact that they’ve finally found time to connect.

From Salon

The shackles on his wrists and ankles clinked as he shuffled past two women who’d wept as he described killing Brizendine.

From Los Angeles Times