clonk

plural clonks

1. The abrupt sound of two hard objects coming into contact.

   The minute hand moved with a clonk, and shuddered to a halt on the 9.

   2002, Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man

   2 more examples

   Our milkman is a jovial character, but not one given to yodelling at the customers on his round. Only the resounding "clonk" of bottles advises us that a couple of pints have been left on the doorstep.

   1959 March, R. C. Riley, “Home with the Milk”, in Trains Illustrated, page 154

   He passed under a low branch now. It hit the top of his helmet with a clonk.

   1969, Kurt Vonnegut, chapter 2, in Slaughterhouse-Five, New York: Dial, published 2005, page 54

2. fishingA stick-like tool used to strike the surface of the water and produce a sound that causes nearby fish to attack the bait.

present singular third person clonks · participle present clonking · participle past clonked · past clonked

1. To make such a sound.

   One half-naked kid with a garrison cap clonked on the marimba; the little black rubber balls on his sticks struck fast.

   1953 September 18, Saul Bellow, chapter XVII, in The Adventures of Augie March […], New York, N.Y.: The Viking Press, →OCLC, page 371

2. informalTo wallop, clobber.