Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To strike or hit with a flat object; whack.
  • noun A hard blow with a flat object; a whack.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A sharp blow with something flat or hard; a whack; a bang.
  • noun Synonyms See thump.
  • To strike with something flat or hard; beat; bang; whack.
  • To ram down; pack.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To strike with something flat or heavy; to bang, or thrash: to thump.
  • transitive verb obsolete To fill to overflow.
  • noun A heavy blow with something flat or heavy; a thump.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The act of thwacking; a strike or blow, especially with a flat implement.
  • noun To strike with a wet, slapping sound.
  • verb To whack or hit with flat implement.
  • verb To beat.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a hard blow with a flat object
  • verb deliver a hard blow to

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Imitative.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From a variant (influenced by whack) of Middle English thakken ("to stroke"), from Old English þaccian ("to touch gently, stroke, tap"), from Proto-Germanic *þakwōnan (“to touch lightly”), from Proto-Indo-European *tag-, *taǵ- (“to touch”). Cognate with Old Dutch þakolōn ("to stroke"), Old Norse þykkr ("a thwack, thump, blow"), Icelandic þjökka, þjaka ("to thwack, thump, beat"), Norwegian tjåka ("to strike, beat"), Latin tangō ("touch"). More at tangent.

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Examples

  • What they forgot to take into account, however, is that you do not hear the primary charge of a rifle being fired if you are more than 100 metres from it, you only hear the "thwack" or "crack" of the bullet passing overhead, followed by a MUTED primary charge thump (weapon firing).

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

  • What they forgot to take into account, however, is that you do not hear the primary charge of a rifle being fired if you are more than 100 metres from it, you only hear the "thwack" or "crack" of the bullet passing overhead, followed by a MUTED primary charge thump (weapon firing).

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

  • A good meaty "thwack" means the thrower needs to go hide for a few seconds.

    H3 quick review 2007

  • A good meaty "thwack" means the thrower needs to go hide for a few seconds.

    Archive 2007-09-01 2007

  • At the last moment she turned parallel to the chukar's line of flight and hit it from behind with the solid "thwack" of a large-caliber bullet striking flesh.

    The Coffin Dancer Deaver, Jeffery 1998

  • As he settled himself in the saddle for a long ride he heard the drumming of hoofs, the hollow "thwack" of chaparral against wooden stirrups, the whoop of

    Waifs and Strays Part 1 O. Henry 1886

  • Nestled among a thick area of pine trees and beautiful red and purple flowers, Harrington blasted his second shot only to hear a thumping "thwack" a moment later as his ball slammed into a tree.

    unknown title 2009

  • At the last second, she twisted her blade so the flat of it hit his head with a resounding 'thwack'.

    Ultimate List 2009

  • Mea culpa 'thwack', mea culpa 'thwack' (oo that feels good), mea culpa 'thwack'

    Army Rumour Service 2009

  • It's no longer the crisp "thwack" of the persimmon, or the cool "ping" of the stainless steel.

    About.com Golf 2009

Comments

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  • i have always loved "thwack."

    January 3, 2007

  • Citation on portly.

    July 25, 2008

  • I love thwack too –it's in the same league as kersplat

    April 13, 2009

  • "THIRD SERVANT: Why, here's he that was wont to thwack our general,--Caius Marcius.

    FIRST SERVANT: Why do you say, thwack our general?

    THIRD SERVANT: I do not say thwack our general; but he was always good enough for him."

    - William Shakespeare, 'The Tragedy of Coriolanus'.

    August 29, 2009