clickety-clack

American  

[klik-i-tee-klak] / ˈklɪk ɪ tiˈklæk /

noun

1. a rhythmic, swiftly paced succession of alternating clicks and clacks, as the sound produced by the wheels of a train moving over tracks.

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Etymology

Origin of clickety-clack

First recorded in 1875–80; metrical compound from click ¹, clack

Example Sentences

The wheels slowed, clickety-clack, find the fifth, clickety-clack, find the fifth, as the motorman applied the brake and the train made its way ’round a steep mountain curve.

From Literature

If she closed her eyes, she could still hear the clickety-clack of the wheels.

From Literature

“It seems like a pretty cool thing. I mean, the clickety-clack, clickety-clack, there’s no better way to get around, in my opinion.”

From Los Angeles Times

Dozens of mechanized needles pumping up and down sounded a continuous clickety-clack, clickety-clack over the rumble of foot treadles and the whir of spinning spools of thread.

From Literature

The soundtrack is usually just clickety-clack ambient sound; some videos supplement the images with a map or on-screen titles that provide information about the route and its landmarks.

From Washington Post