the.com/bang
The sound the universe opened with and your screen door closes with.
means A sudden loud noise, a forceful blow or impact, or the act of striking something abruptly — and as an adverb, suddenly and exactly (bang on time).
from An imitative word, born from the mouth mimicking the thing — your tongue and lips trying to reproduce the slam itself. English has had it since at least the 16th century, possibly nudged along by Old Norse 'banga,' to hammer or pound. The whole family is echoic: 'bang,' 'bash,' 'bonk,' 'thwack' — sounds dressed up as words. The slang senses (the hair 'bangs' cut bluntly straight across, doing something 'with a bang') all branch off that same abrupt energy.
- comic origin
- The exclamation point's nickname among editors and coders
- hair
- Named for cutting horse tails 'bang off'
- big one
- Coined sarcastically by a skeptic, the name stuck
- speed
- Sonic booms are bangs from breaking sound's wall
big bang — the universe's origin event 13.8 billion years ago
bang energy drink — caffeinated beverage brand popular with fitness enthusiasts since 2012