▪ I. clank, n.
(klæŋk)
Also 7 clanck.
[This and the vb. of same form appear in 17th c. They may have been from Du., which has klank sound, clinking noise, MDu. clank, clanc, corresp. to OHG. chlanch, MHG. klanc, MLG. klank, for which mod.Ger. has only klang. But it is quite possible that the word is of native origin, produced under the joint influence of clink and clang, to express a sound intermediate to the two, which has the quality of a ‘clang’, but is abruptly shortened like a ‘clink’.]
1. A sharp, abrupt sound, as of heavy pieces of metal (e.g. links of a heavy chain) struck together; differing from clang in ending abruptly with the effect of a knock.
| 1656 Cowley Davideis i. (1669) 7 No clanck of Chains was known. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 638 What Clanks were heard..Of Arms and Armies, rushing to the War. 1710 Tatler No. 154 The noise of stripes, the clank of chains. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc v. 144 The clattering hammer's clank. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge lxv, The clank of fetters..was heard no more. 1845 R. Brown Let. in Life (1867) 52 No constant clank of machinery. 1858 Longfellow M. Standish iv, He heard the clank of the scabbard Growing fainter and fainter..in the distance. |
2. A resounding blow, heavier than a smack. Sc.
| 1718 Ramsay Christ's Kirk Gr. iii. xxiii, Some ramm'd their noddles wi' a clank E'en like a thick-scull'd lord, On posts that day. |
▪ II. clank, v.
(klæŋk)
[See clank n.1]
I. intr.
1. To make an abrupt sound, as of heavy pieces of metal struck together. (Expressing a sound less clear and continuous than clang; cf. the n., and quot. 1818.)
| 1656 Cowley Davideis iv. (1687) 135 He falls, his Armour clanks against the ground. 1791 E. Darwin Bot. Gard. ii. 80 Dungeons dank Where anguish wails aloud, and fetters clank. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. iv. xii, Chains Clank over sceptred cities. 1818 Scott Rob Roy v, The old dinner-bell will clang, or rather clank, in a few minutes—it cracked of its own accord on the day of the landing of King Willie. |
| fig. 1861 Hon. Mrs. Norton Lady La Garaye iv. 197 The slandered..Hears for evermore the self-same lie Clank clog-like at his heels. |
2. Used of the harsh abrupt cry of certain birds. (rare.) Cf. clang v.1 3.
| 1866 Kingsley Herew. xx. 251 Through pale green reeds where the coot clanked. |
3. To move with a clanking sound.
| 1801 Har'st Rig xv. (Jam.) Forthwith then they a' down clank upon the green. 1823 Blackw. Mag. XIV. 510 Milk⁓women in droves clank along with their..pails. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 24 Clanking about the apartment in their huge boots and rattling spurs. 1866 Kingsley Herew. xxi. 270 Sir Ascelin clanked into the hall. |
II. trans.
4. To cause to emit a clanking sound.
| 1743 J. Davidson æneid vii. 203 Clanked her whip. 1746–7 Hervey Medit. (1818) 203 Persecution had brandished her sword, and slavery clanked her chains! 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge ii, Mr. Haredale..strode into the room, clanking his heavy boots upon the floor. |
5. To utter or proclaim with clanking sound.
| 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II, The beating snow-clad bell, with sounding dead, Hath clanked four. 1871 E. F. Burr Ad Fidem xvi. 336 Clanks in your ears, the power of the Keys. |
6. To deposit with energetic and resounding action. (To ‘clank down’ expresses a more violent and noisy action than to clap down.)
| a 1614 J. Melvill Mem. 97 (Jam.) Loosing a little Hebrew bible from his belt and clanking it down before the King and Chancellour. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 130 (Jam.) Lat's clank oursels ayont the fire. 1843 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 190 When she brought up the tea-tray, she clanked it on the lobby-table. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xl. (1879) 338 [The] milkwoman..clanked her pails down. |
† 7. (Sc.) To strike with a resounding blow.
| Auld Maitland xlvii. in Border Minstrelsy (1869) 157 He clanked Piercy ower the head A deep wound and a sair. |