prangs

Prang is an informal term, mainly in British English, that refers to a crash or collision, usually a minor one. As a noun, a prang describes a damage-causing accident to a vehicle, aircraft, bicycle, or other conveyance. As a verb, to prang means to crash or collide, often suddenly or awkwardly.

The origin is uncertain; the word has been in use since at least the mid-20th century. It may be onomatopoeic, reflecting the sound of impact, or derived from earlier slang for damage or nuisance.

It is informal and more common in spoken language; in formal reporting, “crash” or “accident” is used. In aviation contexts, “prang” can describe a mishap, including runway or mid-air incidents, though it is usually not catastrophic.

Examples of usage include: “He pranged his car on the roundabout.” or “The aircraft pranged during landing.” The plural form, “prangs,” refers to multiple incidents. The term is rarely used in formal manuals or police reports, but it remains common in everyday speech to describe a dented bumper, a damaged aircraft, or a collision of any sort.