dingdong

I

verb

go `ding dong', like a bell

• Syn: ↑ding, ↑dong

• Hypernyms: ↑ring, ↑peal

• Verb Frames:

-

Something ——s

II

adverb

heartily or earnestly

-

They fell to work dingdong

• Usage Domain: ↑colloquialism

* * *

I. \\ˈdiŋˌdȯŋ, -ˌdäŋ\ noun

Etymology: imitative

1. : the ringing sound produced by or as if by repeated strokes on a bell or some other metallic object — often used in oral imitation of such a sound

hark! now I hear them, dingdong bell — Shakespeare

the bell goes dingdong

2. : a bell or other metallic object (as a steel triangle) that makes a ringing sound

every Monday mawnin', when the dingdong sounds — Midnight Special

3. : a verse or poem having a singsong monotonous character : jingle

who would hold the order of the almanac so fast but for the dingdong, “thirty days hath September, etc.” — R.W.Emerson

II. \\ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\ adverb

: with zeal : earnestly or heartily

fell to work dingdong

III. \\ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ intransitive verb

1. : to make a dingdong sound

heard the whistle wail mournfully, heard the bell dingdonging — A.W.Somerville

2.

a. : to repeat an action with monotonous or mechanical regularity

a good engineer …, but not adjusted to dingdonging up and down the river at all — Richard Bissell

b. : to talk, urge, or scold tediously or insistently : din

kept on dingdonging in my ears — W.H.Hudson †1922

IV. \\ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ adjective

1. : of, belonging to, or resembling the ringing sound made by a bell or other metallic object

the dingdong chime of cathedral bells

2. : marked by a rapid exchange or alternation (as of blows)

six weeks of dingdong fighting with heavy tank and infantry losses — Arthur Davies

— often used of a close contest or competition

a dingdong struggle in which both players were reaching great heights — Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald