Clanged

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A distinct, loud noise made by the striking of metal against metal
2. Produced a sharp ringing or resonant sound as metal objects struck together
3. Emitted a clear, loud clash or bang typical of metal hitting metal

Etymology: "Clanged" is the simple past of "clang," so its history is that of the verb itself. "Clang" first appears in English in 1570, and it is imitative: the sound was meant to be heard in the word. Its shape copies the ringing of metal, and similar sound-words turn up across the Germanic languages, including the Dutch "klank," the German "Klang," and the Swedish and Danish "klang," all pointing to a shared echoing pattern. The Latin "clangere," meaning "to resound," probably reinforced the English word, lending it a sense of loud, resonant noise. Its neighbours in the Germanic family, such as the German verb "klingen" from which "Klang" comes, carry the same ringing idea, so the verb's sound and meaning have reinforced each other for centuries.

Synonyms: clashed, rang, resounded, echoed, pealed

Antonyms: silenced, muted, quieted, stilled, dampened