Obs. or dial. [Etymol. unknown.]
1. Orig. of hawks: To beat about, flutter aimlessly, in the air, instead of making direct for the quarry. See BANGLING ppl. a.
2. To bangle (away): to fritter away, squander.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. III. x. (1651), 107. We bangle away our best days, befool out our times.
1636. W. Sampson, Vow Breaker, I. (N.) Thy titles are so bangld with thy debts.
1658. Whole Duty Man, xvi. § 18. (1684), 134. If we wilfully bangle away this so precious a Legacy. [In Lanc. (Halliwell).]
3. intr. To flap, hang loosely.
1622. T. Stoughton, Chr. Sacr., xii. 166. Hats … broad brimmed … bangling about the eares of men, and hiding their faces.
1878. Halliwell, s.v., A bangled hat means one bent down or slouched.
4. dial. To beat down (e.g., corn by wind or rain).
5. Bangle(d) ear, one hanging loosely or flapping, like a spaniel’s; hence Bangle-eared ppl. adj.
1567. Drant, Horace Epist., I. xviii. F iij. A sight of bangle eared houndes.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler (1843), 90. I hold him prudent that in these fastidious times will helpe … bangled ears, with pretty quicke pluckes.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Bangle-Ears; an Imperfection in a Horse. [In mod. Dicts.]
