jingle

[ jing-guhl ]

verb (used without object)

, jin·gled, jin·gling.

1. to make clinking or tinkling sounds, as do coins, keys, or other light, resonant metal objects when coming into contact or being struck together repeatedly:

   The keys on his belt jingled as he walked.

2. to move or proceed with such sounds:

   The sleigh, decorated with bells, jingled along the snowy road.

3. to sound in a light, repetitious manner suggestive of this, as verse, a sequence of words, or piece of music.
4. to make rhymes.

verb (used with object)

, jin·gled, jin·gling.

1. to cause to jingle:

   He jingled the coins in his pocket.

noun

1. a tinkling or clinking sound, as of small bells or of small pieces of resonant metal repeatedly struck one against another.
2. something that makes such a sound, as a small bell or a metal pendant.
3. a catchy succession of like or repetitious sounds, as in music or verse.
4. a piece of verse or a short song having such a catchy succession of sounds, usually of a light or humorous character:

   an advertising jingle.

5. Irish English and Australian. a loosely sprung, two-wheeled, roofed carriage, usually used as a hackney coach.

jingle

/ ˈdʒɪŋɡəl /

verb

1. to ring or cause to ring lightly and repeatedly
2. intr to sound in a manner suggestive of jingling

   a jingling verse

noun

1. a sound of metal jingling

   the jingle of the keys

2. a catchy and rhythmic verse, song, etc, esp one used in advertising

Derived Forms

• ˈjingly, adjective
• ˈjingler, noun

Other Words From

• jingler noun
• jingling·ly adverb
• jingly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jingle¹

1350–1400; Middle English gynglen, apparently imitative; compare Dutch jengelen; -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of jingle¹

C16: probably of imitative origin; compare Dutch jengelen

Example Sentences

KTLA, KFWB, KTTV, KNX — you know the call letters of local radio and TV stations and probably have a jingle or two stuck in your head.

From Los Angeles Times

As ’90s albums such as “Out of Time” and “Automatic for the People” sold millions of copies, the band was embraced by a new audience that didn’t care about the 40 Watt Club in Athens, where R.E.M. had played so many early shows, or that producer Scott Litt had produced Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine,” which became a commercial jingle.

From Los Angeles Times

Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA partners with ice cream maker Good Humor to create a new ice cream truck jingle as an alternative to ‘Turkey in the Straw.’

From Los Angeles Times

The first time I spoke to him in 2017, I was a student in journalism college, covering Capital Radio’s Jingle Bell Ball.

From BBC

KTLA, KFWB, KTTV, KNX — you know the call letters of local radio and TV stations and probably have a jingle or two stuck in your head.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clang
• clatter
• clink