ping
UK[pɪŋ]US[pɪŋ]
v
To send a message to a computer or server on a network to check if it is reachable and measure the time taken for a response.
n
A signal sent to check network connectivity and latency.
Etymology
The word 'ping' is an onomatopoeic creation, imitating the sharp, high-pitched sound made by a sonar pulse or a struck metal object. In computing, it was adopted in the early 1980s as the name for a network diagnostic tool, drawing a direct analogy between sending a sonar 'ping' to detect an object and sending a data packet to test a network connection's status and latency. This metaphorical extension from acoustic echo-location to digital network communication perfectly captures the tool's function of probing for a response. The term's journey exemplifies how simple, imitative sounds can evolve into precise technical jargon through vivid analogy.
Analysis
The word is a simplex, onomatopoeic term. It is not productively formed from distinct, separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The administrator will ping the server to see if it's back online.
I'm getting a high ping to the game server, which is causing lag.
Try to ping the default gateway to test your local network connection.