-ling 1
a suffix of nouns, often pejorative, denoting one concerned with ( hireling; underling ), or diminutive ( princeling; duckling ).
[ ME, OE; c. G -ling, ON -lingr, Goth -lings; see -LE, -ING 1 ]
-ling 2
an adverbial suffix expressing direction, position, state, etc.: darkling; sideling.
[ ME, OE; adv. use of gradational var. lang LONG 1 ]