From Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan (“to adhere”), from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą. Cognate with Danish klynge (“to cluster, to crowd”). Compare clump.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
Antelope steaks and fried liver to begin on, and venison cutlets with chili con carne and pineapple fritters, and then some sardines and mixed pickles; and top it off with a can of yellow clings and a bottle of beer. 1908, O. Henry, Hostages to Momus:
a more tenacious cling to worldly reſpects, 1641, John Milton, Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defence against Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], volume I, Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698, →OCLC, page 139:
(countable, uncountable) An ornament that clings to a window so as to be seen from outside.
You can make window clings by using thin transparency sheets, school glue, food coloring, and templates. 2004, Diane M. Hyde, Year-Round Classroom Tips:
From Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan (“to adhere”), from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą. Cognate with Danish klynge (“to cluster, to crowd”). Compare clump.
Meanings
To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
Seaweed clung to the anchor.
And what hath life for thee / That thou shouldst cling to it thus? 1823, Felicia Dorothea Browne Hemans, The Vespers of Palermo, Act the First:
Third-class carriages are grossly overcrowded, with passengers lying on the luggage racks, standing between the benches, and occasionally even riding on the footboards and clinging to the outsides of the coaches for short distances. 1950 February, W. Dendy, “Impressions of the Indian Railways—3”, in Railway Magazine, page 120:
2017, Jennifer S. Holland, For These Monkeys, It’s a Fight for Survival., National Geographic (March 2017)http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/03/macaques-monkeys-indonesia-endangered-pet-trade/
Cartoonish, wide-eyed infants cling to their mothers or play together low to the ground.
To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films.
(transitive) To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
I[…] clung my legs as close to his sides as I could. 1732, Jonathan Swift, An Examination of Certain Abuses in the City of Dublin:
(transitive) To cause to dry up or wither.
If thou speak'st false, / Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, / Till famine cling thee. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
(intransitive) To dry up or wither.
Wood clings.
(figuratively, with preposition to) To be fond of, to feel strongly about and dependent on.
To produce a high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell.
The latter, armed with the most famous tool of their trade — tiny clinging bells — created a small band of untrained orchestra giving their part of the market a festive outlook […] 2003, Femi Abodunrin, The Dancing Masquerade, page 24:
The tiny chimes clinged the hours and quarters against his right and Kate's left ear. They counted nine and three-quarters. 1913, Cleveland Moffett, Oliver Herford, The Bishop's Purse, page 121: