twangle

English

Etymology

From twang +‎ -le (frequentative suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtwæŋ.ɡəl/
• Rhymes: -æŋɡəl

Verb

twangle (third-person singular simple present twangles, present participle twangling, simple past and past participle twangled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To twang repetitively.
   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 12:

     Cal. Be not affeard, the Iſle is full of noyſes,
     Sounds, and ſweet aires, that giue delight and hurt not :
     Sometimes a thouſand twangling Inſtruments
     Will hum about mine eares ; and ſometime voices,
     That if I then had wak'd after long ſleepe,
     Will make me ſleepe againe, and then in dreaming,
     The clouds methought would open, and ſhew riches
     Ready to drop vpon me, that when I wak'd
     I cri'de to dreame againe.

   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Prologue”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:

     While the twangling violin / Struck up with Soldier-laddie.

Noun

twangle (plural twangles)

1. A twanging sound.

   Synonyms: twang, twanging, twangling

Derived terms

• twingle-twangle