Dictionary

sling en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈslɪŋ/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English slynge (noun), slyngen (verb), probably from Old Norse slyngja, slyngva (“to hurl”), from Proto-Germanic *slingwaną (“to worm, twist”) or compare Old English slingan (“to wind, twist”), from the same source. Compare German schlingen (“to swing, wind, twist”), Danish and Norwegian slynge), from Proto-Indo-European *slenk- (“to turn, twist”) (compare Welsh llyngyr (“worms, maggots”), Lithuanian sliñkti (“to crawl like a snake”), Latvian slìkt (“to sink”)).

Meanings

1. An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other.
   • The Sling is also a weapon of great antiquity, formerly in high estimation among the ancients. 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 43:
2. A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported.
3. A loop of cloth, worn around the neck, for supporting a baby or other such load.
4. A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering.
5. A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder.
6. (in-plural) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast.
7. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.
   • At one sling Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son. 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them. 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act III, scene I, line 55:
8. A loop of rope or fabric tape used for various purposes: e.g. as part of a runner, or providing extra protection when abseiling or belaying.
9. A drink composed of a spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened.
   • a Singapore sling
   • gin sling

Forms

Deriveds

sling bag · slingshot · Singapore sling · hand sling · boob-sling · sling psychrometer · sling bikini · sling cart · hand-sling · sling blade · sling stone · arse in a sling · butt in a sling · mint sling · slingstone · sling-fruit · barrel sling · bottle sling · sling-stone · gin sling · baby sling · slings and arrows · sling ink · sling dog · staff sling · ass in a sling · Hawaiian sling

Descendants

eslinga

Translations (149)

cmn 投石索 (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · ru праща́ (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fi linko (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fi rakkirengas (rope or iron securing a yard to a mast) · gl fonda (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu vállkendő (bandage) · sv mitella (bandage) · hy պարս (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · ce ширдолаг (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pon pahi (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pt estropo (rope or chain arrangement) · no fatle (bandage) · nrf êlîngue (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · es honda (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pl proca (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · el σφεντόνα (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sq hobe (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · grc σφενδόνη (rope or chain arrangement) · hu csúzli (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · bg цедило (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · pt fundíbulo (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sv bärsele (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · ca eslinga (rope or iron securing a yard to a mast) · ca bassetja (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu hordozókendő (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · fi mitella (bandage) · de Tragetuch (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · pl temblak (bandage) · ka შურდული (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · de Armschlaufe (bandage) · ca eslinga (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · fr jet (the act of hurling as with a sling) · sv sele (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · de Schleuder (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fi kannatinside (bandage) · gl coleira (bandage) · mi pukoro (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fr bricole (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · gl estribeira (bandage) · ca eslinga (rope or chain arrangement) · lt laidynė (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fr fronde (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · it bendaggio (bandage) · cmn 繃帶 /绷带 (bandage) · ru бросо́к (the act of hurling as with a sling) · hy պարսետ (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sv gevärsrem (strap attached to a firearm) · fr bandoulière (strap attached to a firearm) · ae 𐬟𐬭𐬀𐬛𐬀𐬑𐬴𐬀𐬥𐬁 (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fr hauban (rope or iron securing a yard to a mast) · ca cabestrell (bandage) · ru пе́ревязь (bandage) · hu vállkötés (bandage) · ru кана́т (rope or chain arrangement) · ca mandró (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sq bahe (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · tk sapan (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fr écharpe (bandage) · cs prak (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fi kantohihna (strap attached to a firearm) · bbl შურდღულ (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · ru строп (rope or iron securing a yard to a mast) · ru строп (rope or chain arrangement) · nv gaan bee naaljidí (bandage) · sw teo (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fi linkous (the act of hurling as with a sling) · pt estilingue (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pdt Schleida (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fi kolmioliina (bandage) · grc σφενδόνη (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · it porta bebè (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · hu vállpánt (strap attached to a firearm) · cy tafl (the act of hurling as with a sling) · ar حَمَّالَة (bandage) · sk prak (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pl proca (bandage) · pl szlojder (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · grc σφενδόνη (bandage) · sh praćka (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sh праћа (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · nl mitella (bandage) · hy պարսատիկ (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · ro praștie (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · nv bee aditłʼį́į́h (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · de Schulterriemen (strap attached to a firearm) · el αορτήρας (strap attached to a firearm) · be пра́шча (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · nl slendang (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · no fatle (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · kum сарпан (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · uk ки́дька (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · de Schleudern (the act of hurling as with a sling) · es cabestrillo (bandage) · fr élingue (rope or chain arrangement) · sva შურდუმ (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · nl verband (bandage) · sq plengë (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pt tipoia (bandage) · da slynge (bandage) · arz مقلاع (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · uk пра́ща (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · uz sopqon (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu hordszíj (strap attached to a firearm) · bg сапан (rope or chain arrangement) · cy tafl (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pt funda (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · da slynge (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · de Armschlinge (bandage) · ca fona (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu karfelkötő kendő (bandage) · mt żbandola (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu kötés (bandage) · tr kol askısı (bandage) · id ketapel (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sw kombeo (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · bg ремък (strap attached to a firearm) · bg пра́шка (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · mi kōtaha (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · it tracolla (strap attached to a firearm) · it imbracatura (rope or iron securing a yard to a mast) · ru реме́нь (strap attached to a firearm) · sv slunga (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu hordszíj (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · la funda (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · es charpa (bandage) · it catapulta (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fa فلاخن (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · fa قلابسنگ (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sl prača (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu parittya (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · mi kawerapa (a loop of cloth or a strap around the neck to carry a load) · sh praća (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · mi taueki (strap attached to a firearm) · nl slinger (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · inh ширдолг (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · it fionda (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · hu vállszíj (strap attached to a firearm) · ar مِقْلَاع (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · pt bandoleira (strap attached to a firearm) · tl salumbaba (bandage) · es eslinga (rope or chain arrangement) · xmf შქურდუმი (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sv slungning (the act of hurling as with a sling) · lzz შურდული (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · it frombola (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · lt ti̇̀mpa (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · uk мета́вка (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · sh праћка (instrument for throwing — see also slingshot) · bg превръзка през рамото (bandage)

sling en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈslɪŋ/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Middle English slynge (noun), slyngen (verb), probably from Old Norse slyngja, slyngva (“to hurl”), from Proto-Germanic *slingwaną (“to worm, twist”) or compare Old English slingan (“to wind, twist”), from the same source. Compare German schlingen (“to swing, wind, twist”), Danish and Norwegian slynge), from Proto-Indo-European *slenk- (“to turn, twist”) (compare Welsh llyngyr (“worms, maggots”), Lithuanian sliñkti (“to crawl like a snake”), Latvian slìkt (“to sink”)).

Meanings

1. To throw with a circular or arcing motion.
   • slings a broken rock aloft in air a. 1720, Joseph Addison, “Milton’s Style Imitated, in a Translation of a Story out of the Third Æneid”, in The Dramatick Works of Joseph Addison. With the Authour’s Poems, on Several Occasions:
   • Everyone could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss. 2000, Bible (World English), Judges xx. 16
2. To throw with a sling.
3. To pass a rope around (a cask, gun, etc.) preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.
4. To hang or stow (a tool or other equipment or supplies) so that the object is ready to deploy.
5. (slang) To sell, peddle, or distribute (often illicitly, e.g. drugs, sex, etc.).
   • You may know a lot about chemistry, man, but you don't know jack about slinging dope. 2008, Breaking Bad, Season 1, Episode 6

Forms

Deriveds

sling over · sling about · sling to · sling in · sling up · sling for · sling off · sling along · sling the hatchet · sling one up · sling one's hook · sling out · undersling · sling it in

Synonyms

hield · flip · flog · chunk · sling · hurl · bung · whang · lob · slight · hoy · precipitate · slang · peg · peck · toss · thrill · whop · wing · whip · dump · jerk · yeet · warp · pick · fling · cook · feck · throw · huck · hurtle · dash · pitch · hurl · launch · quoit · traject · skew · heave · shy · project · fling · cast · chuck

Translations (50)

pl opchnąć (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · fr lancer (to throw) · da slynge (to throw) · it gettare (to throw) · fi kaupata (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · es lanzar (to throw) · fr bicraver (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · gl guindar (to throw) · sv slunga (to throw) · nl ophangen (to throw) · pl opchać (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · it scagliare (to throw) · de schmeißen (to throw) · pt jogar (to throw) · de verchecken (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · bg пробутвам (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · de ticken (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · gl zafrar (to throw) · it lanciare (to throw) · cmn 投掷 (to throw) · ro a trage cu praștia (to throw) · pt atirar (to throw) · de verticken (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · ru броса́ть (to throw) · gl chimpar (to throw) · no slynge (to throw) · fr fourguer (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · sv kränga (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · bg пробутам (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · es tirar (to throw) · fi lingota (to throw) · gl afondear (to throw) · pl opychać (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · nl slingeren (to throw) · nl werpen (to throw) · pl ciskać (to throw) · gl arrebolar (to throw) · bg мятам (to throw) · pl cisnąć (to throw) · gl imbar (to throw) · es arrojar (to throw) · ru толка́ть (to sell with the frequent implication of illegality or similarly pressured) · pl rzucić (to throw) · pl rzucać (to throw) · de schleudern (to throw) · pt arremessar (to throw) · ru швыря́ть (to throw) · it buttare (to throw) · gl fondexar (to throw) · pt arrojar (to throw)

sling en · NOUN · etymology 2

Etymology

From a shortening of spiderling.

Meanings

1. A young or infant spider, such as one raised in captivity.

Forms