Plural of gong; large, usually round metal percussion instruments that produce a deep, resonant sound when struck with a mallet.
From Malay 'gong' or Javanese origin, entering English in the 17th century through trade contacts with Southeast Asia. The word traveled along the same trade routes as the instruments themselves.
Gongs have been used in Buddhist temples for centuries, and some gongs can take years to make by hand—the sound you hear is literally the result of ancient metalworking techniques!
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