clank

[klangk]

noun

a sharp, hard, nonresonant sound, like that produced by two pieces of metal striking, one against the other: the clank of chains; the clank of an iron gate slamming shut.

verb (used without object)

to make such a sound.
to move with such sounds: The old jalopy clanked up the hill.

verb (used with object)

to cause to make a sharp sound, as metal in collision: He clanked the shovel against the pail.
to place, put, set, etc., with a clank: to clank the cell door shut.

Origin of clank

First recorded in 1605–15, clank is from the Dutch word klank sound

Related formsclank·ing·ly, adverbclank·ing·ness, nounclank·less, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for clanking

Historical Examples

From morning until night, rush'd down the clanking guillotine.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
They had wrapped the links of the chain in grass and leaves, so that no clanking was heard.
Welsh Fairy Tales
William Elliott Griffis
A wheezing and coughing and clanking of keys interrupted the proceedings.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
Presently there came the gentlest of impacts and then a clanking sound.
Pariah Planet
Murray Leinster
Philip could hear no more for the puffing of the steam and the clanking of the chains.
The Manxman
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for clanking

clank

noun

an abrupt harsh metallic sound

verb

to make or cause to make such a sound
(intr) to move or operate making such a sound

Derived Formsclankingly, adverb

Word Origin

C17: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clanking

clank

v.

1610s, perhaps echoic, perhaps a blend of clang (v.) and clink (v.), perhaps from a Low German source (cf. Middle Dutch clank, Dutch klank, Old High German klanc, Middle Low German klank, German Klang).

clank

n.

1650s, from clank (v.). Reduplicated form clankety-clank attested from 1895.

clank

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}clank

Related Words

Examples from the Web for clanking

Historical Examples

From morning until night, rush'd down the clanking guillotine.

They had wrapped the links of the chain in grass and leaves, so that no clanking was heard.

A wheezing and coughing and clanking of keys interrupted the proceedings.

Presently there came the gentlest of impacts and then a clanking sound.

Philip could hear no more for the puffing of the steam and the clanking of the chains.

clank

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for clanking

clank

v.

clank

n.

Origin of clank