Etymograph

English

bang

Bang comes from Middle English *bangen.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*bangenreconstructed
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604bang

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*bangenreconstructed
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604bang

Earliest quotation: c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice: “The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks.”

The story

In the sense of abrupt left turn, from Boston left and associated risk of a crash.

Every English word from Middle English *bangen

Today it means

noun A sudden percussive noise.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle English *bangen / bang

Shirt and support for this word