SLING

n. & v. --n. 1 a strap, belt, etc., used to support or raise a hanging weight, e.g. a rifle, a ship's boat, or goods being transferred. 2 a bandage looped round the neck to support an injured arm. 3 a strap or string used with the hand to give impetus to a small missile, esp. a stone. 4 Austral. sl. a tip or bribe. --v.tr. (past and past part. slung) 1 (also absol.) hurl (a stone etc.) from a sling. 2 colloq. throw. 3 suspend with a sling, allow to swing suspended, arrange so as to be supported from above, hoist or transfer with a sling. øsling-back 1 a shoe held in place by a strap above the heel. 2 (in full sling-back chair) a chair with a fabric seat suspended from a rigid frame. sling-bag a bag with a long strap which may be hung from the shoulder. sling one's hook see HOOK. sling off at Austral. & NZ sl. disparage; mock; make fun of. slung shot a metal ball attached by a thong etc. to the wrist and used esp. by criminals as a weapon. [ME, prob. f. ON slyngva (v.)]