Tocks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The distinct, usually audible sounds marking equal increments of time on a clock; a single unit of these sounds; the rhythmic ticking noise produced by mechanical timepieces
2. An individual sound made by clocks to indicate passing seconds; a measurable segment of time denoted by such sounds; the characteristic ticking of clocks or similar devices
3. The audible beats emitted regularly by clocks to signify time passage; one such beat marking an interval; the typical ticking sound found in timekeeping instruments

Etymology: "Tocks" is the plural of "tock," and the singular is itself a sound-imitation: a clipped, hollow noise like a clock's escapement. The pairing of "tick" and "tock" for the two halves of a clock's swing is a familiar one, and "tock" is the form that picks up the lower, second beat. Because it is an imitative word rather than one built on an older root, its origin lies in the sound it mimics rather than in any borrowed language.

Synonyms: ticks, beats, clicks