clink

Meaning

Noun

1. (onomatopoeic) The sound of metal on metal, or glass on glass.
2. Stress cracks produced in metal ingots as they cool after being cast.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To make a clinking sound; to make a sound of metal on metal or glass on glass; to strike materials such as metal or glass against one another.
2. (dated, humorous) To rhyme.

Verb

To clinch; to rivet.

Synonyms

tinkle

jingle

ring

💍

chink

clang

jail

clank

jangle

rattle

slammer

gaol

sound

🔉

chime

chokey

ting

tink

prison

jailhouse

click

ding

hoosegow

clatter

rustle

poky

peal

pen

🖊️

pokey

cooler

coin

🪙

clobber

clip

buzz

clicking

check

cleft

hold

chatter

bump

bastille

clash

hard cash

gurgle

clap

👏

chateau

hit

hock

gash

flaw

hurt

fissure

Translations

klingen

💍

klirren

tintinear

tintinnare

tönen

tinter

chirona

sonner

🔉

prisão

prison

tintinnio

Knast

κουδουνίζω

τσουγκρίζω

taule

Pronounced as (IPA)

/klɪŋk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: clinken

Inherited from Old English: *clincan

Cognate with Middle Dutch: klinken

Cognate with German: klingen

In summary

From Middle English clinken, from Old English *clincan (compare clynnan, clynian (“to sound; resound”)), from Proto-Germanic *klinganą (“to sound”).
Cognates include Middle Dutch klinken and German klingen. Related to cling (sound) and clang. May be further related to call.
Perhaps of onomatopoeic origin, as metal against metal.