Gangling: meaning, definitions and examples

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gangling

 

[ ˈɡæŋɡlɪŋ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

physical appearance

Gangling is an adjective used to describe someone who is tall, thin, and awkward in appearance. This term conveys a sense of clumsiness often associated with long limbs and an elongated frame. A gangling person may have a hard time moving gracefully due to their height and lack of coordination. The word often evokes a visual image of an ungainly figure that appears out of place in a more petite environment.

Synonyms

lanky, slender, spindly, tall

Examples of usage

  • The gangling teenager tripped over his own feet.
  • She looked gangling in her oversized clothes.
  • His gangling frame made him stand out in the crowd.

Translations

Translations of the word "gangling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desengonçado

🇮🇳 लम्बा और पतला

🇩🇪 ungelenk

🇮🇩 jangkung dan canggung

🇺🇦 незграбний

🇵🇱 niezdarny

🇯🇵 不器用な

🇫🇷 maladroit

🇪🇸 torpe

🇹🇷 sakarlık

🇰🇷 서투른

🇸🇦 أخرق

🇨🇿 nešikovný

🇸🇰 neobratný

🇨🇳 笨拙的

🇸🇮 neroden

🇮🇸 fátt við fætur

🇰🇿 бос

🇬🇪 უჭკვიანო

🇦🇿 aciz

🇲🇽 torpe

Etymology

The word 'gangling' dates back to the early 19th century and is derived from the dialectal term 'gangly', which itself comes from the verb 'gang', meaning to go or move. Originally, 'gangly' was used to describe a person who moved awkwardly due to long limbs. As the term evolved, it took on the specific adjective form 'gangling' to encapsulate the concept of an awkward, tall, and slender appearance. The construction of the word suggests a combination of the physical characteristics associated with such figures, as well as the social implications of being perceived as clumsy or ungainly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,431, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.