whang

¹

[hwang, wang]

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

[hwang, wang]

noun

1. a thong, especially of leather.

2. Also called thong leather. rawhide.

3. Slang: Often Vulgar.,  penis.

whang

¹

/ 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

/ wæŋ /

noun

1. a leather thong

verb

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

Word History and Origins

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of whang¹

C19: of imitative origin

Origin of whang²

C17: variant of _thong

Example Sentences

Around here the people seem content to settle for whatever scars life whangs them with as a decoration.

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Or an emptiness so sudden it leaves the girders whanging in the absence of wind, the sky milk-blue and astringent?

Read more on Economist

They turned down Cannery Row and whanged a stone at the corrugated iron front of Morden’s Cannery.

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The sharp, pointed fragment hit a hollow tooth and whanged into the nerve.

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I will eat it the second day, but never, ever the third, and certainly not if it has anything resembling a whang.

Read more on Time

Related Words

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