bingle

English

Noun

bingle (plural bingles)

1. (Australian, informal) A minor collision, especially between motor vehicles.
   • 2005, Johnny Blue, The Blue Riders' Club, page 144,

     It is always an advantage if you have a sexy car, but if you pick her up in a rusty Datsun 180B you may as well say goodnight. […] There is also the worst-case scenario of being involved in a bingle. If this happens you will definitely be finished and she will probably sneak off on you if she manages to escape injury.

   • 2006, Lee Battersby, A Stone to Mark My Passing, Through Soft Air, page 138,

     "I, uh . . . " I managed, "I seem to have had a bit of a bingle." I pointed a thumb behind me at the car.

   • 2010, Felicity Young, Take Out, page 163,

     ‘But you've still got your father′s car haven′t you?’

     ‘No. Had a bingle in it the other night, nothing major. I just hope to hell it′s fixed before he finds out. […] ’

Synonyms

• collision, crash, fender-bender (US), prang (UK)

Etymology 2

Blend of bob and shingle

1. A hairstyle for women that is somewhere between a bob and a shingle.

Etymology 3

Possibly a blend of bat and single

1. (baseball, slang) A base hit in which the batter stops safely at first base.