Twangings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A series of sharp, vibrating sounds produced by plucking or strumming a stringed instrument or similar objects
2. The act of creating a resonant, often nasal sound, commonly associated with the pronunciation of certain vowels or the twang of musical strings
3. The distinctive noise generated when a tautly drawn string is disturbed, leading to a characteristic sound often heard in folk or country music

Etymology: "Twangings" is simply the plural of "twanging," which is a form of the verb "twang" with the suffix "-ing." Plural nouns of this kind name repeated instances of the sound, so each individual pluck or strum counts as one of the twangings. The base word "twang" is imitative in origin: its sound is meant to mirror the quick, resonant vibration of a taut string. That sonic quality explains why the word attached so readily to the noise of bowstrings and musical instruments before it came to describe a nasal tone of voice.

Synonyms: twang, strum, plucking