Sling Definition

slĭng
slinging, slings, slung
noun
slings
A primitive instrument for throwing stones, etc., consisting of a piece of leather tied to cords that are whirled by hand for releasing the missile.
Webster's New World
A slingshot.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
The act of throwing with or as with a sling; cast; throw; fling.
Webster's New World
A looped or hanging band, strap, etc. used in raising and lowering a heavy object or for carrying, supporting, or steadying something.
A rifle sling.
Webster's New World
verb
slinging, slings, slung
To throw (stones, etc.) with a sling.
Webster's New World
To throw, cast, fling, or hurl.
Webster's New World
To hang (something) with or as with a sling or slings.
To sling a hammock between two trees.
Webster's New World
To place, carry, raise, lower, etc. in a sling.
Webster's New World
To place in a hanging or supported position.
Sling a towel over one's shoulder.
American Heritage
idiom
slings and arrows
  • Difficulties or hardships.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Sling

Noun

Singular:
sling
Plural:
slings

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Sling

  • slings and arrows

Origin of Sling

  • Probably from Old Norse slyngja, slyngva (“to hurl"), from Proto-Germanic *slingwanÄ… (“to worm, twist") (compare Old English slingan (“to wind, twist"), German schlingen (“to swing, wind, twist"), Danish 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")).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English slinge

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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