plinketyn.int.adj.
/ˈplɪŋkᵻti/, U.S. /ˈplɪŋkᵻdi/ Usually in reduplicative combination with other similar imitative words, as plank, plink, plonk, etc., and suggesting an alternation of similar sounds.
A. n.
A high, sharp, tinkling, or metallic noise. Used esp. to represent the sound of a musical instrument having a jangling or ringing tone. Cf. plink int.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > ringing sound > [noun] > tinkle or ting
twinkling13..
tinglinga1398
tinklinga1398
ting1611
tinkle-tanklinga1625
tinkle-tankle1642
tinniment1656
tinkle1722
tingle1754
sprinkle1843
ting-a-ling?1850
tankling1864
plinkety1891
ting-a-ring1931
1891 J. G. Bourke On Border with Crook v. 83 The plinkety-plunk of the harps was unchecked.
1891 Sandusky (Ohio) Daily Reg. 29 Jan. As Mona with her uncle and aunt entered..the plank-plinkety-plank of violins came floating out to them.
1931 Marion (Ohio) Star 17 Apr. 6/6 The plinketty-plank of string orchestras.
1962 P. Bracken I hate to housekeep Bk. vi. 37 Let's say your car has developed a small plinkety-bleep under its hood. In the repair shop, the men..can spend a good couple of days changing it to a plinkety-bloop.
1975 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 3 Aug. 7/2 He would have to become the banjoman if the band were to enjoy the plinkety-plinkety-plink of that particular instrument.
2001 Northern Echo (Nexis) 15 Feb. 4 One of our most cherished summer songs—the plinkety-plonk of the ice cream van—could soon disappear.
B. int.
Representing such a sound. Cf. plink int.
ΚΠ
1892 Trenton (New Jersey) Times 17 Sept. 3/5 The man who leaned fondly over the woman playing the piano was no longer young. Neither was the woman. ‘Plinkity, plink, plinkity, plink.’
1895 Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening News 19 Feb. 6/5 ‘Plinkety, plung, plung,’ would go the gong.
1991 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 5 Dec. 1 Plinkety, plinkety, plonk. The Pinellas Banjo Band slid suavely into When You're Smiling.
2001 Leicester Mercury (Nexis) 3 Dec. 11 He rolls up his beige jumper sleeves and begins hammering the ivory keys. Plink, plink, plinkety, plink.
C. adj.
Relating to or designating a sharp ringing sound, or a musical instrument producing it. Cf. plinky adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > ringing sound > [adjective] > tinkling
tinglingc1450
tinklingc1450
tinkle-tankling1643
tintinnabulant1812
tinkly1860
plinkety1924
1924 Zanesville (Ohio) Signal 9 June 5/2 Something fell on top of his tall silk hat with a plinkity plunkity sound.
1966 Valley News (Van Nuys, Calif.) 22 May (East Valley ed.) 10 a/2 Plinkety-plant [sic] pianos..and old-fashioned gas lamps added to the soft-lighted Victorian effect.
1983 P. Dickinson Healer II. i. 89 The plinkety sounds of harp-scales came faintly.
1991 Jazziz Nov. 49/2 Fleck's plinkety banjo and Howard Levy's blues ‘harp in a cup’ outline a melody that sounds like pre-war Duke Ellington.
2000 Country Music People May 34/4 It's the sparsest track here, with Indian toms and plinkety guitar driving the track along behind Heatherly's zesty vocal.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.int.adj.1891