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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

arseling en · ADV · etymology 1

Etymology

From Middle English *arsling, from Old English earsling (“backwards, on the back”). Cognate with Dutch aarzeling, aarzelings, German ärschling, ärschlings. By surface analysis, arse + -ling.

Meanings

  1. (East-Anglia, Scotland, UK, dialectal, especially, not-comparable) Backwards.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
arselong alternative lexicographic
arselings alternative lexicographic

Relateds

arseways

arseling en · NOUN · etymology 2

Etymology

From arse + -ling.

Meanings

  1. (UK, derogatory, rare, slang) A petty and obnoxious person.
    • Defiant arselings is what you all are. You think you know best, gallivanting off with pirates? 2023, Tricia Levenseller, Vengeance of the Pirate Queen:
    • "Ah, the arselings Leif Kolskeggson and Sterkur death-in-the-eye," Svik said. 2024, John Gwynne, The Fury of the Gods:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
arselings Number=Plur lexicographic
assling US, alternative lexicographic