clickety-clack

[klik-i-tee-klak]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of clickety-clack¹

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

Example Sentences

“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.”

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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.

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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.

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And since steam trains don’t clickety-clack in the same way as a coaster, the ride’s anti-rollback system had to be rethought to more accurately mimic a train.

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Abbott bears witness to this supply chain on his workdays, soaking in the clickety-clack of train wheels, carrying thousands of tons of supplies, as they roll over the joints and squats of the rail line.

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