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Webster 1913 Edition

Sling

Sling

,
Noun.
[OE.
slinge
; akin to OD.
slinge
, D.
slinger
, OHG.
slinga
; cf. OF.
eslingue
, of German origin. See
Sling
,
Verb.
T.
]
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 missile being lodged in a hole in the strap, the ends of the string are taken in the hand, and the whole whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.
2.
The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.
The
slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune.
Shakespeare
At one
sling

Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son.
Milton.
3.
A contrivance for sustaining anything by suspension
; as:
(a)
A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported.
(b)
A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering.
(c)
A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder.
(d)
(Naut.)
A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; – chiefly in the plural.
Sling cart
,
a kind of cart used to transport cannon and their carriages, large stones, machines, etc., the objects transported being slung, or suspended by a chain attached to the axletree.
–
Sling dog
,
one of a pair of iron hooks used as part of a sling. See def. 3
(b)
above.

Sling

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Slung
,
Archaic
Slang
;
p. p.
Slung
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Slinging
.]
[AS.
slingan
; akin to D.
slingeren
, G.
schlingen
, to wind, to twist, to creep, OHG.
slingan
to wind, to twist, to move to and fro, Icel.
slyngva
,
slöngva
, to sling, Sw.
slunga
, Dan.
slynge
, Lith.
slinkti
to creep.]
1.
To throw with a sling.
“Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss.”
Judg. xx. 16.
2.
To throw; to hurl; to cast.
Addison.
3.
To hang so as to swing;
as, to
sling
a pack
.
4.
(Naut)
To pass a rope round, as a cask, gun, etc., preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.

Sling

,
Noun.
[Cf. G.
schlingen
to swallow.]
A drink composed of spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sling

SLING

, n.
1.
An instrument for throwing stones, consisting of a strap and two strings; the stone being lodged in the strap, is thrown by losing one of the strings With a sling and a stone David killed Goliath.
2.
A throw; a stroke.
3.
A kind of hanging bandage put round the neck, in which a wounded limb is sustained.
4.
A rope by which a cask or bale is suspended and swung in or out of a ship
5.
A drink composed of equal parts of rum or spirit and water sweetened.

SLING

,
Verb.
T.
pret. and pp. slung. [The primary sense seems to be to swing.]
1.
To throw with a sling.
2.
To throw; to hurl.
3.
To hang so as to swing; as, to sling a pack.
4.
To move or swing by a rope which suspends the thing.

Definition 2024

sling

sling

English

Verb

sling ‎(third-person singular simple present slings, present participle slinging, simple past slung or slang, past participle slung)

  1. To throw with a circular or arcing motion.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Addison to this entry?)
  2. To throw with a sling.
    • Bible, Judges xx. 16
      Everyone could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss.
  3. (nautical) To pass a rope around (a cask, gun, etc.) preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.
  4. (slang) To sell drugs.
    • 2008, Breaking Bad, Season 1, Episode 6:
      You may know a lot about chemistry man but you don't know jack about slinging dope.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

A diagram of how to put on a sling (sense 2)

sling ‎(plural slings)

  1. (weapon) 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.
    • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 43:
      The Sling is also a weapon of great antiquity, formerly in high estimation among the ancients.
  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. (nautical, chiefly in the 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.
    • Milton
      At one sling / Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son.
    • 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene I, line 55:
      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.
  8. (climbing) 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.
    gin sling
    a Singapore sling

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

Probably from Old Norse slyngja, slyngva ‎(“to hurl”), from Proto-Germanic *slingwaną ‎(“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”)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈslɪŋ/
  • Rhymes: -ɪŋ

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