clink

¹

[ klingk ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or cause to make a light, sharp, ringing sound:

   The coins clinked together. He clinked the fork against a glass.

noun

1. a clinking sound.
2. Metallurgy. a small crack in a steel ingot resulting from uneven expanding or contracting.
3. a pointed steel bar for breaking up road surfaces.
4. Archaic. a rhyme; jingle.

clink

²

[ klingk ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a prison; jail; lockup.

clink

¹

/ klɪŋk /

noun

1. a slang word for prison

clink

²

/ klɪŋk /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a light and sharply ringing sound

noun

1. a light and sharply ringing sound
2. a pointed steel tool used for breaking up the surface of a road before it is repaired

Word History and Origins

Origin of clink¹

1275–1325; Middle English clinken, perhaps < Middle Dutch clinken to sound, ring, resound

Origin of clink²

1505–15; after Clink, name of prison in Southwark, London, perhaps < Dutch klink door-latch

Word History and Origins

Origin of clink¹

C16: after Clink, name of a prison in Southwark, London

Origin of clink²

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch klinken; related to Old Low German chlanch, German Klang sound

Example Sentences

Imagine the ghostly rustling of silk taffeta, the clinking of giant paillettes, brought back to life by scientists and engineers.

From New York Times

When he hits a pothole on our street, the bottles clink against one another.

From Literature

An awkward silence was filled with the sounds of forks and knives clinking on plates, so Monty tried to break the ice.

From Literature

While Mrs. Brisbane was clattering pots and clinking pans and making things smell good, he sat in his wheelchair in the living room and frowned.

From Literature

“If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the ‘clink’ for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela,” Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post.

From Los Angeles Times