[f. BANG v.1; cf. ON. bang, OSw. bång a hammering, Da. bank a beating.]
1. A heavy resounding blow, a thump.
c. 1550[?]. Rob. Hood (Ritson), vi. 79. All the wood rang at every bang.
[1570. Levins, Manip., /23. Bangue, fustis].
1598. Florio, Sergozzone, a bang or rap giuen upon the necke.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. iii. 20. You’l beare me a bang for that I feare.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. ii. 831. With many a stiff thwack, many a bang, Hard Crab-tree and old Iron rang.
a. 1845. Hood, Lay Real Life, vii. Many a bitter bang I bore.
† b. A drubbing, defeat. Obs. rare.
1644. Sir G. Radcliffe, in Carte’s Collect. (1735), 329. After a shrewd bang Prince Rupert is recruiting gallantly.
2. A sudden, violent or explosive noise; e.g., the report of fire-arms.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, II. 58 (L.). The steps of a fine belozenged carriage were let down with a bang.
1884. J. Colborne, Hicks Pasha, 160. The sharp bang of a section of howitzers.
3. A sudden impetuous movement; impetus, go.
c. 1774. C. Keith, Farmer’s Ha’. As he was working lang and strang, And fallowin wi’ pith and bang.
1870. J. Kaye, Sepoy War, II. VI. iv. 554. An unwonted amount of confidence and bang.
