/ klɪŋk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
to make or cause sth to make a sharp ringing sound, like that of glasses being hit against each other
SYN chink :
[ v ]
clinking coins
[ vn ]
They clinked glasses and drank to each other's health.
■ noun [ sing. ]
1.
(also clink·ing ) a sharp ringing sound like the sound made by glasses being hit against each other
2.
( old-fashioned , slang ) prison
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 1 Middle English (as a verb): probably from Middle Dutch klinken .
noun sense 2 early 16th cent. (originally denoting a prison in Southwark, London): of unknown origin.