I. ˈsliŋ verb
( slung ˈsləŋ ; or chiefly dialect slang ˈslaŋ ; slung ; slinging ; slings )
Etymology: Middle English slingen, probably from Old Norse slyngva to hurl; akin to Old English & Old High German slingan to creep, wind, Lithuanian slinkti
transitive verb
1. : to cast forcibly and usually suddenly : hurl , fling
sling the net out to dry
sling your coat over your shoulder
2. : to throw (as a stone) with a sling
intransitive verb
1. : to hurl missiles with a sling
2. : to move with vigor as if slung
slinging angrily out of the room
especially : to stride along purposefully : swing
Synonyms: see throw
•
- sling ink
- sling one's hook
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a slinging or hurling of or as if of a missile : a violent blow
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune — Shakespeare
2. : a fault in badminton committed when the racket makes a sliding contact with the shuttlecock
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from Middle Low German slinge; akin to Old High German slinga sling, slingan to creep, twist
1.
a. : an instrument for throwing stones or other missiles that usually consists 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 and that is used by whirling round until on loosing one end the missile is let fly with centrifugal force
b. : slingshot
2. obsolete : a small cannon : culverin
3.
a. : a usually looped line (as of strap, chain, rope) used to hold securely something to be hoisted, lowered, carried, or suspended: as
(1) : a strap forming a loop (as on a rifle, a pack, or a woman's purse) and used especially to suspend the burden over the shoulder
(2) : a hanging bandage suspended from the neck to support an arm or hand
(3) : a strip of the upper of a shoe having a cutout back part that forms a strap fitting over the wearer's heel and holding the shoe in place
b. : a device based on or substituted for such a looped line and usually fitted with hooks or tackles: as
(1) : a chain or rope attached to a lower yard at the middle and passing around a mast near the masthead to support a yard — usually used in plural; see ship illustration
(2) : a chain hooked at the bow and stern of a boat to hook the tackles to when it is lowered or hoisted aboard ship ; also : a group of three or four wire legs spliced to a ring, fitted with shackles at their outer ends, and used for hoisting a man-of-war's boats with a crane
(3) : butt sling
(4) : a harness especially constructed for supporting a sick animal in a standing position
(5) : a device (as a rope net) for actually enclosing material to be hoisted or lowered by a tackle or crane
(6) : the skeleton supporting frame of an elevator car and its attached guide shoes and cable beam
4. slings plural : the middle part of a ship's yard
5. : a piece of wire with a handle at each end used for cutting potter's clay
IV. transitive verb
( slung ; slung ; slinging ; slings )
1.
a. : to place in a sling for hoisting or lowering
the load must be carefully slung if it is to be safely hoisted
b. : to move by slings
sling a cask
2. : to suspend by or as if by a sling
sling a scaffold from a roof
3. : to cut (clay for potting) with a sling
4. : to suspend (a yard) from the masthead of an old-time war vessel by extra chains on going into action
V. adjective
1. : attached to or suspended in or from a sling
a sling wagon
wearing an alligator sling bag over her shoulder
2. : designed to be worn thrown loosely over the shoulders
a sling cape
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: an alcoholic drink usually made of whiskey, brandy, or especially gin with plain or carbonated water, sugar, and sometimes bitters and often garnished with lemon or lime peel if cold or dusted with nutmeg if hot
gin sling
rum sling
VII. intransitive verb
: to drink slings
VIII. noun
Etymology: from native name in Tibet, probably modification of Sining, Hsining, city of west central China, important trade station on route to Lhasa
: an Indian cloth of fine goat's wool