sling

Definition

To throw with a circular or arcing motion.

Etymology

From Middle English slynge (noun), slyngen (verb), probably from Old Norse slyngja, slyngva (“to hurl”), from Proto-Germanic *slingwaną (“to worm, twist”) or compare Old English slingan (“to wind, twist”), from the same source. Compare German schlingen (“to swing, wind, twist”), Danish and Norwegian 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”)).

Example Sentences

• "Everyone could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss."
• "slings a broken rock aloft in air"
• "You may know a lot about chemistry, man, but you don't know jack about slinging dope."