[In ME. a. AF. and OF. jangle sb. from jangler; in later use immediately from the Eng. vb.]
† 1. Idle talk, chatter, jabber; an idle word. Obs.
[1292. Britton, IV. ix. § 3. La tierce manere de jurer est qe vient de legerté de jaungle et de mauvesté de usage.]
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 462. Þere nis no iargoun no iangle, ne iuggeme[n]tis falce.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 575. Do manye goode werkes, and spek fewe Iangles.
2. Contention, altercation, bickering.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., I. ii. Then in such a cleere text as this may we know too without further jangle.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 302. Having made the whole business of State their Arminian jangles.
1751. Mrs. Delany, Lett., to Mrs. Dewes, 55. If these jangles were to happen often, it would greatly embitter the pleasure I have in Don’s company.
1876. Miss Yonge, Womankind, xviii. 144. This ought to be frankly owned … if for no other reason than to prevent jangles.
3. Discordant sound, ring or clang.
1795. Gifford, Mæviad, 106. The mad jangle of Matilda’s lyre.
1834. Ht. Martineau, Farrers, iii. 40. The jangle of cans at the stall where hot coffee was sold.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. Prelude 6. And the discordant tones of all existence In sullen jangle are together hurled.
4. Confused and noisy talk; the mingled din of voices. (A kind of blending of senses 1 and 3.)
1839. Carlyle, Chartism, vi. 146. Infinite sorrowful jangle.
1866. Cornh. Mag., Nov., 516. The gay jangle went on, and the laughter and music poured out to where Catherine was sitting.
1884. Chr. Commw., 23 Oct., 20/3. When the chaff of sputter and jangle of platitude and puerility has been sifted away.
