Jangling
/ˈdʒæŋɡlɪŋ/noun
Making a harsh ringing or clattering sound; also, quarreling or talking noisily.
Did you know?The word is tied to the old idea of clashing, noisy speech: in Middle English, *janglen* could mean not just clinking sounds but also gossiping and quarreling, as if arguments were audible metal.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
ME
janglen
“to chatter noisily, quarrel, or make a clanging sound”
Late Old English / Middle English
Germanic
*jang- / *jank-
“an imitative base for rattling, clashing, or noisy movement”
Middle English
ME
jangling
“noisy clatter or contentious talk”
Modern English
English
jangling
“making a harsh ringing sound; noisy, quarrelsome speech”