spang

English

Etymology 1

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”)

Noun

spang (plural spangs)

1. (obsolete) A shiny ornament or object; a spangle
   • Spenser

     With glittering spangs that did like stars appear.

Verb

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

Onomatopoeia

Verb

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
   • 1895, Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage

     Occasional bullets buzzed in the air and spanged into tree trunks.

   • 1918, Zane Grey, The U.P. Trail

     How clear, sweet, spanging the hammer blows!

Adverb

spang (not comparable)

1. (dated) Suddenly; slap, smack.
   • 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber 2007, p. 22:

     And I didn't stop until I found myself spang in the middle of the Musée de Cluny, clutching the rack.

Etymology 3

Probably from spring (verb) or spank (verb)

Verb

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

1. (intransitive, dialect, UK, Scotland) To leap; spring.
   • Ramsay

     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

spang (plural spangs)

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

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Walter Scott to this entry?)

Etymology 4

See span

Noun

spang (plural spangs)

1. (Scotland) A span.

References

• spang in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• spang in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• pangs