ding-a-ling

[ding-uh-ling] /ˈdɪŋ əˌlɪŋ/
noun, Slang.
1.
a stupid, foolish, or eccentric person.
Origin
1930-35; rhyming compound imitative of a bell
Word Origin and History for ding-a-ling
n.

"one who is crazy," 1935, from notion of hearing bells in the head (see ding (v.)).

Slang definitions & phrases for ding-a-ling

ding-a-ling 1

adjective

: to maintain the dingaling Holly Goheavily manner of life/ It's the ding-a-ling capital of the universe (1930s+)

noun

An eccentric person; nut, screwball: The impression left by all this is that Wolman and Kuharich must be a couple of ding-a-lings/ great for teeny-boppers and cute little ding-a-lings (1930s+)

[fr the notion that such a person hears bells ringing in the head]


ding-a-ling 2

noun

The penis; cock, doodle

[1980s+; probably fr dingus]