ding

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dinged Dang (Obs.), or Dung (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinging. ] [ OE. dingen, dengen; akin to AS. dencgan to knock, Icel. dengja to beat, hammer, Sw. dänga, G. dengeln. ] 1. To dash; to throw violently. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To ding the book a coit's distance from him. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to sound or ring. [ 1913 Webster ]

To ding (anything) in one's ears, to impress one by noisy repetition, as if by hammering. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thump or stroke, especially of a bell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a stupid or foolish person; -- used in a deprecatory or contemptuous sense. [ slang ]
Syn. -- dingdong, doofus. [ PJC ]

n. [ See Ding. ] 1. The sound of, or as of, repeated strokes on a metallic body, as a bell; a repeated and monotonous sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Horol.) An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.

3. a stupid or foolish person; -- used in a deprecatory or contemptuous sense. [ slang ]
Syn. -- ding-a-ling, doofus. [ PJC ]

. (Philol.) The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the brain a phonetic expression; -- jocosely so called from the analogy of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ }, n. [ Bengalee dingi. ] 1. a small boat propelled by oars or sails, used in the East Indies, in sheltered waters. [ Written also dinghey. ] Malcom. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a small boat intended to be used as a tender or lifeboat, carried or towed by a ship. It may be propelled by oars, sail, or a motor. [ PJC ]

3. a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled.
Syn. -- dory, rowboat. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a dingy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being dingy; a dusky hue. [ 1913 Webster ]