A small dent or the metallic ringing sound something makes when struck, like a bell.
From Old English 'dyne' and related to Old Norse 'dynr,' possibly imitative in origin. The word has referred to both sounds and the physical marks they might cause.
In your phone, 'ding' is still the same concept—a quick sound notification—showing how an ancient word adapted perfectly to modern technology without needing a replacement!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.