clink

Meanings

Plural: clinks

Noun

a short light metallic sound
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
The sound of metal on metal, or glass on glass.
Stress cracks produced in metal ingots as they cool after being cast.
A prison.

Verb

make a high sound typical of glass
- "champagne glasses clinked to make a toast"
make or emit a high sound
To make a clinking sound; to make a sound of metal on metal or glass on glass; to strike materials such as metal or glass against one another.
To rhyme.
To clinch; to rivet.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English clinken, from Old English *clincan (compare clynnan, clynian (“to sound; resound”)), from Proto-Germanic *klinganą (“to sound”).
Cognates include Middle Dutch klinken and German klingen. Related to cling (sound) and clang. May be further related to call.
Perhaps of onomatopoeic origin, as metal against metal.

Synonyms

chink, click, gaol, jail, jailhouse, pokey, poky, slammer, tink, tinkle

Scrabble Score: 11

clink is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
clink is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
clink is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

clink is a valid Words With Friends word