Plink
/plɪŋk/noun
To make or produce a short, sharp, lightly metallic sound.
Did you know?“Plink” is an onomatopoeic formation, meaning its sound pattern was shaped to echo the noise it describes rather than inherited from an ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
plunk
“An imitative word for a dull, resonant sound; a likely predecessor or influence on later forms such as “plink”.”
16th–17th Century
English
plunk
“Used for a heavy or abruptly produced sound, especially one made by striking or dropping something.”
19th Century
English
plonk
“A related sound-symbolic variant expressing a blunt or resonant impact.”
Early 20th Century
English
plink
“A newer sound-symbolic variant suggesting a lighter, sharper metallic or string-like note.”
Modern English
English
plink
“To make a brief, high-pitched sound, or the sound itself.”