I. liŋ, lēŋ noun suffix
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German -ling, Old Norse -lingr, Gothic -lings, Old English -ing — more at -ing (one of a specified kind)
1. : one belonging to or associated with a (specified) group or condition or marked by a (specified) quality
hire ling
dar ling
nest ling
2. : young, small, or inferior one
duck ling
gos ling
prince ling
II. adverb suffix
or -lings -ŋz
Etymology: -ling from Middle English, from Old English; -lings from Middle English -linges, from -ling + -es, gen. singular ending of nouns (functioning adverbially, as in nedes needs, alweyes always); akin to Old High German -lingūn -ling, Old English -lō strap, Lithuanian lenkti to bend — more at -s
: in (such) a direction or manner : to (such) an extent
east ling
— chiefly in adverbs of state or manner
dark ling
III.
present part of -le