Shakings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Involuntary or deliberate movements characterized by rapid tremors, often associated with fear or excitement
2. Episodes of disturbance in a physical object or environment, such as rattling or quaking
3. A series of sudden, recurrent motions that can signify emotional distress or an external force acting upon something

Etymology: "Shakings" is simply the plural of "shaking," the noun formed from the verb "shake." The plural matters here because it names separate episodes of trembling or rattling rather than the general motion itself, so one speaks of the building's shakings after a series of tremors. The base word, "shake," traces back to Old English "sc(e)acan," meaning to shake, move quickly, or hurry, and the plural simply counts out those individual disturbances.

Synonyms: tremors, quakes, vibrations