General
prang
What does prang mean?
A crash, prang-up, or smashed-up aircraft. Usually a landing accident rather than a combat loss — the kind of thing that wrote off the kite but not the pilot.
"He pranged the Spitfire on landing — wheels collapsed."
Origin
RAF, WWII. Probably imitative — the noise of metal hitting something hard at speed. Used both for what you did to the enemy and what you did to your own aircraft on landing.
Frequently asked questions
What does prang mean?
A prang is a minor car crash or collision. It can also be used as a verb, as in 'to prang the car.'
Where does the word prang come from?
It dates to 1940s slang and is thought to be imitative of the sound of a crash.
Is a prang a serious accident?
Usually not; a prang implies a minor bump or fender-bender rather than a major collision.
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