Chime
/tʃaɪm/noun
A ringing sound made by bells or similar instruments.
Did you know?In medieval times, bells were often believed to ward off evil spirits, turning every chime into a protective ritual.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*kīman
“to make a sound, to ring”
Old English
OE
cīeman
“to sound, to ring, or to proclaim”
Middle English
ME
chimen
“to sound or make a ringing noise”
14th Century
Middle English
chime
“a ringing of bells or a series of sounds made by instruments”
Modern English
English
chime
“the act of ringing or the sound produced by bells”