whang

¹ American  

[hwang, wang] / ʰwæŋ, wæŋ /

noun

1. a resounding blow.

2. the sound produced by such a blow.

   the whang of gongs and cymbals.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to strike with a resounding blow.

verb (used without object)

1. to resound with such a blow.

whang ² American  

[hwang, wang] / ʰwæŋ, wæŋ /

noun

1. a thong, especially of leather.

2. Also called thong leather.  rawhide.

3. Slang: Often Vulgar. penis.

---

whang ¹ British  

/ wæŋ /

verb

1. to strike or be struck so as to cause a resounding noise

---

noun

1. the resounding noise produced by a heavy blow

2. a heavy blow

whang ² British  

/ wæŋ /

noun

1. a leather thong

---

verb

1. (tr) to strike with or as if with a thong

Etymology

Origin of whang¹

First recorded in 1815–25; imitative

Origin of whang²

1530–40; originally Scots form of thwang, early form of thong ( whack, whittle ); sense “penis” perhaps an unrelated expressive word ( dong ³ )

Example Sentences

Phil Mickelson slid down a hill on his butt like he was riding a saucer, and John Daly decided to whang a club into Lake Michigan in mid-tantrum.

From Washington Post • Aug. 14, 2015

Along Broadway and Commerce streets the whine and whang of steel-string guitars floated through doorways.

From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2014

Here is an old-time bard trying manfully to "whang 'is bloomin' lyre" to the rhythms of his youth.

From Time Magazine Archive

Toward the end, a solo piper�spotlighted on a platform as though he were walking a battlement�softly plays Lights Out, and with a final scream of pipes and whang of drums the Watch marches out.

From Time Magazine Archive

The birds are bagged with a gentle remonstrance, and Luath's exploit rewarded with a whang of cheese.

From Recreations of Christopher North, Volume I (of 2) by Wilson, John Lyde

Related Words

• bat
• batter
• beat
• belt
• blast
• kick
• knock
• knock out
• nail
• pop
• punch
• slap
• smack
• whack