tinkle

Definition

To make light metallic sounds, rather like a very small bell.

Etymology

From Middle English tinclen, equivalent to tink + -le (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian tinkelje (“to tinkle”), Dutch tinkelen (“to tinkle”), German Low German tinkeln (“to flicker, glitter, sparkle”).

Example Sentences

• "The glasses tinkled together as they were placed on the table."
• "The sprightly horse / Moves to the music of his tinkling bells."
• "With a sound like tinkling bells, far off in a land of shepherds hidden by some hill, the waters of many fountains turned again home."

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