Pealings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act or sound of ringing bells repeatedly or in a series; the process of removing the outer layers or shells of something; a loud, resonant burst of sound or noise
2. A succession of ringing bell sounds often used in celebration or announcement; the removal of external, typically unwanted parts such as skins or shells; a sonorous outburst of sound carried over a distance
3. The repeated tolling or chiming of bells usually conveying a message or signal; the shedding or stripping away of outer coverings from objects; a clear, echoing sound produced by ringing or reverberation

Etymology: "Pealings" is the plural of "pealing," a noun for the sounds of bells rung in a peal, the sustained ringing of a set of bells in changes or harmony. The noun is built from "peal," which is the root that carries the sense of a loud, ringing sound, and the "-ing" ending turns the action of pealing into a thing that can be heard. The plural form, "pealings," refers to several such outbursts of bell music, as when church bells are rung one after another across a town or on a festive day.

Synonyms: ringings, chimes, tollings, clangings, resonances