twang
Definitions
-
WordNet 3.6
- v twang pronounce with a nasal twang
- v twang pluck (strings of an instrument) "He twanged his bow"
- v twang twitch or throb with pain
- v twang sound with a twang "the bowstring was twanging"
- v twang cause to sound with a twang "He twanged the guitar string"
- n twang exaggerated nasality in speech (as in some regional dialects)
- n twang a sharp vibrating sound (as of a plucked string)
- ***
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
-
- Twang A harsh, quick sound, like that made by a stretched string when pulled and suddenly let go; as, the twang of a bowstring.
- n Twang A tang. See Tang a state.
- Twang An affected modulation of the voice; a kind of nasal sound. "He has such a twang in his discourse."
- v. t Twang To make to sound, as by pulling a tense string and letting it go suddenly. "Sounds the tough horn, and twangs the quivering string."
- v. i Twang To sound with a quick, harsh noise; to make the sound of a tense string pulled and suddenly let go; as, the bowstring twanged .
- ***
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
-
- twang To give out a sharp, metallic ring, as the string of a musical instrument, a bow, etc., when plucked and suddenly set free: said also of other instruments which make a similar sound.
- twang To make music on a stringed instrument that is played by plucking or snapping; cause a sharp ringing sound like that of a harp or bowstring: as, to twang on a jews'-harp.
- twang To have a nasal sound: said of the human voice; also, to speak with a nasal twang: said of persons.
- twang To shoot with a bow; make a shot; hence, figuratively, to surmise; guess.
- twang To cause to sound with a short sharp ring; set in quick, resounding vibration, as the tense string of a bow or a musical instrument that is played by plucking: said less frequently of wind-instruments.
- twang To sound forth by means of a twanging instrument.
- twang To utter with a short, sharp, or nasal sound; specifically, to pronounce with a nasal twang.
- n twang The sound of a tense string set in sudden sharp vibration by plucking; hence, any sharp, ringing musical sound.
- n twang A sharp, ringing nasal tone, especially of the human voice.
- twang An exclamation or sound imitative of the twang of a bowstring, harpstring, etc.
- n twang A sharp taste; a disagreeable after-taste or flavor left in the mouth; a tang; a flavor.
- n twang A sharp pull; a sudden pang, a twinge.
- ***
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
-
- n Twang twang (prov.) a sharp flavour, an aftertaste.
- n Twang twang (Scot.) a twinge.
- n Twang twang a sharp, quick sound, as of a tight string when pulled and let go: a nasal tone of voice
- v.i Twang to sound as a tight string pulled and let go: to sound with a quick, sharp noise: to have a nasal sound
- v.t Twang to make to sound with a twang
- v.t Twang to cause to twangle
- ***
Quotations
-
“Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin-it's the triumphant twang of a bedspring.” -
“It comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him.”
Etymology
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
Of imitative origin; cf. Tang a sharp sound, Tinkle
Usage
In literature:
Doctor, you talk very good English, but you have a mighty twang of the foreigner.
"The Beaux-Stratagem" by George Farquhar
She read to him, and made him read to her, and battled hard to get him out of his schoolboy twang.
"Quicksilver" by George Manville Fenn
The twang of the rude instrument awoke the pacha, who had been fast asleep for some time.
"The Pacha of Many Tales" by Frederick Marryat
There was a rasp of metal friction, and a loud twang.
"Gambler's World" by John Keith Laumer
The captain had just given orders to make fast another line, when the sharp, twanging snap of a cord was heard.
"The World of Ice" by R.M. Ballantyne
I was suddenly and rudely enlightened when I heard the twang of the bow, and saw the arrow flying straight towards me.
"The Big Otter" by R.M. Ballantyne
Backward the twanging cable snapped, demolishing with one touch a score of the clustering Orconites.
"The Winged Men of Orcon" by David R. Sparks
He was just about to answer when a sharp twang caught his ear, and turning his head he saw Ezra in the act of handing the violin to Reuben.
"Aunt Rachel" by David Christie Murray
He had a shrewd, good sort of face, and a Yankee twang to his speech.
"Peak and Prairie" by Anna Fuller
Lou Pope, as Lady of the Lake, rowed her own boat, with Jack for a droll little Harper, twanging his zitter for want of a better instrument.
"Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5" by Louisa M. Alcott
***
In poetry:
He twanged his bow. Upon its course
The clothyard arrow sped,
And when it fell in yonder dell,
Brave Robin Hood was dead.
The clothyard arrow sped,
And when it fell in yonder dell,
Brave Robin Hood was dead.
"The Death Of Robin Hood" by Eugene Field
"The red men say that here she walked
A thousand moons ago;
They never raise the war-whoop here,
And never twang the bow.
A thousand moons ago;
They never raise the war-whoop here,
And never twang the bow.
"The White-Footed Deer" by William Cullen Bryant
With that his lute he twanged straightway,
And thereon begann most sweetlye to play,
And after that lessons were playd two or three,
He strayn'd out this song most delicatlie:
And thereon begann most sweetlye to play,
And after that lessons were playd two or three,
He strayn'd out this song most delicatlie:
"The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall-Green" by Anonymous British
With that his lute he twang-ed straightway,
And thereon began most sweetly to play;
And after that lessons were played two or three,
He strained out this song most delicatel-ie.
And thereon began most sweetly to play;
And after that lessons were played two or three,
He strained out this song most delicatel-ie.
"The Beggar's Daughter Of Bethnal Green" by Henry Morley
Scarcely the year had flown. One night
The Commandante awoke in fright,
Hearing below his casement's bar
The well-known twang of the Don's guitar;
And rushed to the window, just to see
His wife a-swoon on the balcony.
The Commandante awoke in fright,
Hearing below his casement's bar
The well-known twang of the Don's guitar;
And rushed to the window, just to see
His wife a-swoon on the balcony.
"Don Diego Of The South" by Francis Bret Harte
The humming-bird, like a courtier gay,
Dipped down with a dalliant song,
And twanged his wings through the roundelay
Of love the whole day long:
Yet my rose turned from his minstrelsy
And hid in the leaves in wait for me.
Dipped down with a dalliant song,
And twanged his wings through the roundelay
Of love the whole day long:
Yet my rose turned from his minstrelsy
And hid in the leaves in wait for me.
"The Rose" by James Whitcomb Riley
In news:
If last week's Rosie Flores/Marti Brom rockabilly filly, double-trouble hootenanny didn't unscrew your lid, then this twang-tastic triple bill ought to do it.
Their mix of rock and Texas twang produces what the band calls a "swamp stomp" sound, and they breathe life into every note they play.
" Poster notes, "I love country music, but oftentimes people have a certain allergy to the twang, which is why I didn't get the opportun...
Head's up, California country fans: a whole list of great twang performers are headed your way.
Her hearty twang rises to the challenge of Hank, Lucinda, and Gram, stoops to conquer "Luka," "True Colors.".
'Twang Town Throw Down ': Sunrise Theater Hosts Country/Rock Musicians.
Kelly Clarkson Puts Some Twang in Greatest Hits Album.
Surf-Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-1966 (RockBeat).
Surf-Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-1966. Who needs singers.
Y'all Listen Up: Texas Twang Might Be Fading Away.
Twang Darkly Plays Live on Red River Radio.
Deep in the heart of downtown Houston, listen in on just about any conversation and something is noticeably absent: Texas twang .
Pages Related to Twang Town.
Blog Posts Related to Twang Town.
These Days, the Twang Ain't No Thang.
***