spang

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See also: Spang and spång

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Middle English spang (a small piece of ornamental metal; spangle; small ornament; a bowl or cup), likely from Middle Dutch spange (buckle, clasp) or Old English spang (buckle, clasp).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Noun

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spang (plural spangs)

  1. (obsolete) A shiny ornament or object; a spangle
Derived terms
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Verb

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spang (third-person singular simple present spangs, present participle spanging, simple past and past participle spanged)

  1. To set with bright points: star or spangle.
  2. To hitch; fasten.

Etymology 2

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Onomatopoeic.

Verb

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spang (third-person singular simple present spangs, present participle spanging, simple past and past participle spanged)

  1. (intransitive, of a flying object such as a bullet) To strike or ricochet with a loud report

Adverb

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spang (not comparable)

  1. (dated) Suddenly; slap, smack.
    • 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber, published 2007, page 22:
      And I didn't stop until I found myself spang in the middle of the Musée de Cluny, clutching the rack.

Etymology 3

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Uncertain. Cognate with Scots spang, and possibly related to English spank.

Verb

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spang (third-person singular simple present spangs, present participle spanging, simple past and past participle spanged)

  1. (intransitive, dialect, UK, Scotland) To leap; spring.
    • a. 1758, Allan Ramsay, epistle to Robert Yarde
      But when they spang o'er reason's fence, / We smart for't at our own expense.
  2. (transitive, dialect, UK, Scotland) To cause to spring; set forcibly in motion; throw with violence.

Noun

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spang (plural spangs)

  1. (Scotland) A bound or spring; a leap.

Etymology 4

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See span

Noun

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spang (plural spangs)

  1. (Scotland) A span.

References

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Anagrams

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