sling Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a highball with liquor and water with sugar and lemon or lime juice
  2. noun a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
    catapult; slingshot.
  3. noun a shoe that has a strap that wraps around the heel
    slingback.
  4. noun a simple weapon consisting of a looped strap in which a projectile is whirled and then released
  5. noun bandage to support an injured forearm; consisting of a wide triangular piece of cloth hanging from around the neck
    triangular bandage; scarf bandage.
  6. verb hurl as if with a sling
    catapult.
  7. verb hang loosely or freely; let swing
  8. verb move with a sling
    • sling the cargo onto the ship
  9. verb hold or carry in a sling
    • he cannot button his shirt with his slinged arm

WordNet

Sling noun
Etymology
OE. slinge; akin to OD. slinge, D. slinger, OHG. slinga; cf. OF. eslingue, of German origin. See Sling, v. t.
Definitions
  1. An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting 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. The missile being lodged in a hole in the strap, the ends of the string are taken in the hand, and the whole whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.
  2. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.
    The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Shak.
    At one sling Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son. Milton.
  3. A contrivance for sustaining anything by suspension; as: (a) A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported. (b) A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering. (c) A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder. (d) (Naut.) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; -- chiefly in the plural.
Sling transitive verb
Etymology
AS. slingan; akin to D. slingeren, G. schlingen, to wind, to twist, to creep, OHG. slingan to wind, to twist, to move to and fro, Icel. slyngva, slöngva, to sling, Sw. slunga, Dan. slynge, Lith. slinkti to creep.
Wordforms
imperfect Slung archaic Slang ; past participle Slung; present participle & verbal noun Slinging
Definitions
  1. To throw with a sling. "Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss." Judg. xx. 16.
  2. To throw; to hurl; to cast. Addison.
  3. To hang so as to swing; as, to sling a pack.
  4. (Naut) To pass a rope round, as a cask, gun, etc., preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.
Sling noun
Etymology
Cf. G. schlingen to swallow.
Definitions
  1. A drink composed of spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened. as, a Singapore sling.

Webster 1913