tings

Tings is the plural form of ting, a word with several distinct senses in English and related languages. In contemporary usage, ting most often refers to a sharp, light ringing or clinking sound, such as the sound a bell or a small metal object makes. The plural “tings” can denote multiple such sounds or occurrences, usually in descriptive or onomatopoeic writing.

A second sense of ting comes from historical and linguistic contexts. In Old Norse and related Germanic languages, ting (or þing) meant a public assembly, court, or parliament. In modern English this meaning is largely obsolete outside scholarly discussion, where ting may be used to refer to ancient or comparative institutions. The plural “tings” in this sense would denote multiple assemblies. The Icelandic term þing is still used for national and local legislatures, such as Alþingi, reflecting the historical root of the word.

Beyond these meanings, ting can appear as a surname or in place names in some regions, though such usage is uncommon. Because “tings” can be confused with the common word “things,” contemporary usage tends to reserve the form for historical, linguistic, or onomatopoeic contexts, or when it appears as a proper noun.

In summary, ting primarily denotes a small ringing sound in modern English, with a separate historical sense relating to assemblies in Germanic and Norse traditions. The plural “tings” is thus context-dependent: multiple sounds in everyday use, or multiple assemblies in scholarly historical contexts.