n., v., & adv.
n. 1 a a loud short sound. b an explosion. c the report of a gun. 2 a a sharp blow. b the sound of this. 3 esp. US a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead. 4 coarse sl. an act of sexual intercourse. 5 sl. a drug injection (cf. BHANG).
v. 1 tr. & intr. strike or shut noisily (banged the door shut; banged on the table). 2 tr. & intr. make or cause to make the sound of a blow or an explosion. 3 tr. esp. US cut (hair) in a bang. 4 coarse sl. a intr. have sexual intercourse. b tr. have sexual intercourse with.
adv. 1 with a bang or sudden impact. 2 colloq. exactly (bang in the middle). bang off Brit. sl. immediately. bang on Brit. colloq. exactly right. bang-up US sl. first-class, excellent (esp. bang-up job). go bang 1 (of a door etc.) shut noisily. 2 explode. 3 colloq. be suddenly destroyed (bang went their chances). go with a bang go successfully.
[ 16th c.: perh. f. Scand. ]