Dictionary

forsling en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Middle Dutch verslinden, from Old Dutch *farslindan (“to devour”), from Proto-West Germanic *fraslindan, from Proto-Germanic *fraslindaną (“to devour”), equivalent to for- + Proto-Germanic *slindaną (“to devour”), from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“to sneak, creep”). Cognate with Dutch verslinden (“to devour”), Middle Low German vorslinden (“to devour, eat up”), German verschlinden, verschlingen (“to devour, swallow up”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍃𐌻𐌹𐌽𐌳𐌰𐌽 (fraslindan, “to gobble, swallow, devour”).

Meanings

1. (archaic, transitive) To swallow down; gobble up.
   • He hath waited by night and day in such wise that he hath stolen so many of my children that of fifteen I have but four, in such wise hath this thief forslongen them. 1924, William John Thoms, Henry Morley, Roger Bacon, Early English Prose Romances:

Forms