Gong |
 |
1. (Malay, Sundanese, Javanese, Balinese, Kadazan)
Vertically hanging knobbed gong, usually large.
Tell me more : Parts of the knobbed gong.
See also :
- gong lanang
- gong wadon
- gong ageng
- gong suwuk
- gong siyem
2. (Balinese)
Gamelan, usually of metal and comprising gongs.
See also :
- gong gedé
- gong kebyar
- gong angklung
- gong saron
- gong semar pegulingan
- gong pelègongan
Etymology
Can be compared with the Malay word gaung, meaning echo or a wind sound.
Also, the word and the instrument's sound are perhaps related to the om (ong) sound, important in Hindu and Buddhist ritual and esotericism.
The onomatopoeic aspect seems obvious. Names of instruments often end with -ng, and this word is an example of that. Mung = gong noise. Ngung = resonant noise.
The word in Europe comes from Malay or Javanese but refers to any metal instrument of similar shape, with or without knob.
Other romanizations
Gung.
Goöng, go'ong are Sundanese.
