▪ I. clinking, vbl. n.
(ˈklɪŋkɪŋ)
[f. clink v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of the verb clink; the making of a sharp metallic sound.
| c 1386 Chaucer Nun's Pr. Prol. 28 Ffor sikerly nere clynkyng of youre belles That on youre bridel hange on euery syde..I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleepe. 1515 Barclay Egloges ii. (1570) B iv/3 The wretched lazar with clinking of his bell. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 50 A long Lease for the clinking of Pewter. 1844 Alb. Smith Adv. Mr. Ledbury ii, The clinking of the cups and saucers. |
▪ II. ˈclinking, ppl. a.
[f. clink v.1 + -ing2.]
1. That clinks or tinkles. (In quot. 1856 there may be a reference to clinker n.1 4.)
| 1714 Gay Trivia Poems 1745 I. 143 Safe thro' the wet on clinking pattens tread. 1760 Goldsm. Cit. W. lxxxv, Ye dear three clinking shillings in my pocket's bottom. 1856 R. Vaughan Mystics (1860) II. xiii. iii. 272 He stood upon the shoulder of a volcano, among the clinking scoriæ. 1871 Palgrave Lyr. Poems 10 The clinking bell, Far off, yet nigh. |
2. slang. Used intensively, as adj. or adv., like chopping, clipping, whacking, rattling, etc.
| 1868 Daily Tel. 6 June, Vermouth was a clinking good horse. 1876 Daily News 28 Oct. 6/4 There was a clinking finish for the Feather Plate. 1880 L. J. Jennings Rambles among Hills 95 The driver..declared that it [the bridge] was a ‘clinkin' good one’. |