| 释义 |
▪ I. sling, n.1|slɪŋ|
Forms: α. 4– sling (4 scling), 4, 6 slinge, 4–6 slyng(e, 5 sclyng(e; 4 sleng(e. β. Sc. 5 slong, 6 sloung, 5–6, 9 slung.
[app. of Continental origin, but the precise source is not clear. The forms in the cognate languages which correspond most closely to the usual sling are MLG. slinge, OHG. slinga (slinka, MHG. slinge, G. dial. schlinge), older Da. slinge, slynghe (Da. slynge); cf. also OF. eslingue (elingue, mod.Norm. and Pic. élingue). The rare ME. sleng answers to MLG. slenge, OHG. slenga (MHG. slenge, older or dial. G. schlenge, schlenke). The Sc. slung, † slong, resembles the MSw. slonga (slionga, sliunga), Sw. slunga, but it is difficult to assume direct connexion.
ON. slǫngva (Icel. slanga) would normally have given ME. *slang, but the form might have been modified under the influence of the vb. There is no independent evidence of the Flem. slinge ‘funda’ given by Plantin and Kilian along with the usual slinger.]
1. a. An implement or weapon for hurling stones or similar missiles by hand with great force or to a distance, consisting of a strap attached to two cords or strings, or to a stick or staff (= staff-sling); the impulse is given by rapid whirling of the sling before discharging it. Also locally, a boy's catapult.
Freq. in allusions to the slaying of Goliath by David (1 Sam. xvii. 40, 49–50).
αa1300Cursor M. 7528 His arms fra him did he suing, And tok bot a staf and a sling [Gött. slenge]. 13..Ibid. 14431 (Gött.), Dauid.. þat sclou golias wid his scling. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 455 [He] was anon i-smyte wiþ a stoon of a slynge. c1450Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.) 52 Dauid orthrewe hym sone with his stone and his slyng. 1484Caxton Fables of æsop v. ix, Alle the men came to gyder, somme with slynges, and somme with bowes. 1530Palsgr. 271/2 Slynge made in a shepherdes staffe, fonde hollette. 1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa 47 In war their weapons are slings, and swordes made of base iron. 1632Lithgow Trav. vii. 333 Twenty Moores broke out vpon me, with shables and slings. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 415 With Balearick Slings, or Gnossian Bow, To persecute from far the flying Doe. 1737Whiston tr. Josephus, Antiq. vi. ix. §5 Taking one of the stones,..and fitting it to his sling, he slang it against the Philistine. 1828W. Clarke Boy's Own Bk. (ed. 2) 25 The sling... Whirl it round several times, let go the shorter thong, and the stone will be shot to a great distance. 1846Greener Sci. Gunnery 3 Not allowing their children any food until they struck it from the top of a pole with a stone from a sling. 1878Browning Poets Croisic 34 Pebble from sling Prostrates a giant.
β1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 169 David..vencust that grete Goulyas, with..his slong and his slong stanis. 1533Bellenden Livy i. xvii. (S.T.S.) I. 95, xxx centuries quhilkis war commandit to bere sloungis and casting stanis. 1535Stewart Chron. Scot. II. 19 With bow and slung to cast arrow and stane. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 145 Ȝoung men soulde vse for waepinis a slung with a bow. 1808in Jamieson (and still in common use).
b. fig. or in fig. contexts.
c1315Shoreham vi. 25 Þou ert þe slinge, þy sone þe ston Þat dauy slange golye op-on. 1533More Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1126/1 Yong foolishe Dauid, that hath..with the slyng of hys heresyes slonken [sic] hymselfe to the deuill. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Pref. a iij b, Out of the slyng of his Regall autoritee [he] cast the corner stone. 1602Shakes. Ham. iii. i. 58 The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune. 1737Bracken Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 123 If he [a horse] would not be a Sap-whistle, he might be a Sling at any time. [1874S. Cox Pilgrim Ps. ii. 42 The slings and arrows of adversity.]
c. A machine or implement for hurling large stones or missiles; a ballista.
1535Coverdale Ezek. xxvi. 9 His slynges & batelrammes shal he prepare for thy walles. 1609Bible (Douay) 1 Macc. vi. 51 He placed there..instruments to cast fyre,..and scorpions to shoote arrowes, and slings [L. fundibula]. 1682Bunyan Holy War (1905) 232 The Kings Captains had brought with them several slings, and two or three Battering-Rams. 1736Ainsworth Lat. Dict. ii, Cestrosphendone, a sling, an engine of war to throw darts.
2. attrib. and Comb., as sling-caster, sling-maker, sling-thrower; sling-bullet, sling-cord; † sling-bone (see quot. 1730).
1535Coverdale Judith vi. 12 Whan they drew nye vnto the mountaynes, the slynge casters came out agaynst them. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. ii. v. (1622) 39 The Captaine..commaunded the sling-casters and stone-casters to let freely at them. 1609Bible (Douay) 2 Kings viii. comm., These were archers and sling-throwers of the guard. 1647Hexham 1, A Sling-maker, een slinger-maker. 1730Bailey (fol.), Ballistæ Os,..the Sling Bone, the same with Astragalus. 1764J. Ferguson Lect. ii. 13 A pebble moved round in a sling..will fly off the moment it is set at liberty, by slipping one end of the sling-cord. 1890Academy 2 Aug. 94/1 A small haematite weight, resembling a barrel or sling-bullet in shape.
▪ II. sling, n.2|slɪŋ|
Forms: 4 sleng(e, slyngg, 4–5 slyng, 4–6 slynge, 7– sling.
[Perhaps ultimately the same word as prec. The senses correspond to some extent with those of LG. sling(e, G. schlinge, Sw. slinga noose, knot, snare, arm-sling, etc.; also OF. eslingue (1322), Sp. and Pg. eslinga, Romansch slinga. The immediate source of the word in English is not obvious.]
1. a. A device for securing or grasping bulky or heavy articles while being hoisted or lowered, usually a belt, rope, or chain formed into a loop and fitted with hooks and tackle (cf. quots. 1627, 1769); a loop of this kind by which heavy objects are lifted, carried, or suspended.
1323–4Ely Sacr. Rolls (1907) II. 47 In slyngg emendand. 2d. Item in uno corrio equino empt. pro le Slyngg, 1s. 4d. 1338Roll in Nicolas Hist. Royal Navy (1847) II. 475 La nief appelle la carake,..un bowespret, ove ii. polyves,..ii. slenges, un trusse. 1485Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 37 Bote and Cokke slyngs, vij. c1515Cocke Lorell's B. 12 Some wounde at y⊇ capstayne..; Some stode at y⊇ slynge. 1551–60Invent. in H. Hall Eliz. Age (1886) 153 In the Brewe⁓house... A paier of slynges ijd. 1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. v. 21 Slings are made of a rope spliced at either end into it selfe with one eye at either end, so long as to bee sufficient to receiue the caske;..another sort are made much longer for the hoising of ordnances. 1649in Archaeologia X. 401 One outward wine celler..fitted with..one payre of slinges. 1743London & C. Brewer iii. (ed. 2) 186 The heavy Burden of a Barrel of Drink on the Slings. 1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Slings,..a rope whose ends are fixed in such a manner to it's other part, as to encircle a cask, bale, or case, and suspend it whilst hoisting or lowering. 1800Asiatic Ann. Reg. IV. 56/1 Slings were then prepared, and Mrs. Harris and the child were lowered into the boat. 1844Regul. & Ord. Army 351 When the horse is deposited in the hold, and released from the slings. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 389/1 A sling for lifting a gun off its carriage. Ibid. 389/2 Shot Sling, a sling for carrying heavy shot or shell.
b. In mountaineering, rock-climbing, etc., a short length of rope used to provide additional support for the body in abseiling or belaying.
1920G. W. Young Mountain Craft iv. 194 Not only is the single sling more likely to snap under the rub of the hard ring. 1946J. E. Q. Barford Climbing in Britain ii. 24 Slings. Most parties doing exposed or difficult rock climbs nowadays carry one or more slings. 1965A. Blackshaw Mountaineering ii. vii. 204 Most British climbers carry nylon slings... The use of slings has been very highly developed by British mountaineers; mainly, no doubt, because natural running belays have come to be used much more here than elsewhere. 1976G. Moffat Over Sea to Death v. 53 She placed her slings, clipped in her rope and, watching it fall, caught her second's eye.
2. Naut.
a. (See quots.)
c1625Nomenclator Navalis (MS. Harl. 2301) s.v., There are first slings to sling casks in..; a third sorte is anie Roape or Chaine wherewith wee binde fast the yards [a]loft to the Cross Trees. 1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. v. 21. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 632 Yard-slings, the rope or chain used to support a yard which does not travel up or down a mast.
b. The middle part of a yard (see quot. 1846).
1670–1Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. 159 Broke our Main Topsail-Yard being rotten in the Slings. 1689Lond. Gaz. No. 2505/3 The St. Albans breaking her Fore-yard in the Slings. 1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Yard, The distance between the slings and the yard-arms..is..divided into quarters. 1797Jervis in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1845) II. 335 The Colossus..had her fore and fore-top-sail yards wounded, and they unfortunately broke in the slings. 1830Marryat King's Own xvi, The fore-yard of the Frenchman was divided in the slings. 1846A. Young Naut. Dict. 286 Slings, that part of a yard encircled by the sling-hoop, which suspends it from the mast, or by which it is hoisted and lowered. c1860H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 76 Topsail yards..are..strengthened by four battens in the slings and quarters.
c. (See quots.)
1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Slings of the Buoy, the ropes which are fastened about it, and by which it is hung. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 632 Buoy-slings are special fittings adopted in order that a buoy may securely ride on the wave.
3. a. A leather strap attached to a rifle, etc., enabling it to be carried slung over the shoulder, or on the arm.
1711Milit. & Sea Dict., Slings are Leather Thongs, made fast to both Ends of the Musket, and serving for the Men to hang them by on their Shoulders. 1802James Milit. Dict. s.v., The sling consists of three straps of leather. 1833M. Scott Tom Cringle vii, A short gun..with a sling to be used on a march. 1897Army & Navy Stores List 1632 Brown Leather Golf Sling. 1902Encycl. Brit. XXX. 124 The lance..is provided with a sling, through which the trooper passes his right arm when the lance is carried slung.
b. A strap, band, wire, etc., forming a kind of loop by which something is suspended or hung.
1771Smollett Humph. Cl. II. 10 July, The leather sling [in a coach]..cracked. 1843Holtzapffel Turning l. 348 The flask..can be then turned round in the slings..to enable it to be repaired. 1852Seidel Organ 49 On the lower end of the palate..there is a sling of iron or metallic wire. 1878Huxley Physiogr. xvi. 262 This iron is furnished with a shoulder which carries the iron-wire sling.
c. A piece of cloth or other material, formed into a loop and suspended from the neck so as to support an injured arm (or foot).
1720De Foe Capt. Singleton vi. (1840) 97 The sling his arm hung in. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho li, He wears his arm in a sling. 1826S. Cooper First Lines Surg. (ed. 5) 114 The arm is to be kept perfectly quiet in a sling. 1860Mrs. Carlyle Lett. III. 51 He came..with his arm in a sling. 1895Arnold & Sons Catal. Surg. Instr. 681 Foot Sling, with strap for neck.
d. to have (one's) ass in a sling, etc.: (see quot. 1960); to be in trouble. Cf. ass n.2, arse. U.S. slang.
1960Wentworth & Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang 10/1 To have one's ass in a sling, to be or to appear to be sad, rejected, tired, or defeated. 1976‘B. Shelby’ Great Pebble Affair (1977) 157, I figure there's no money in it for me, but I sure as hell want Rosale's ass in the sling. 1982S. F. X. Dean Such Pretty Toys (1983) vi. 94 Gonna get my ass in some sling if I miss that plane.
†4. A noose or snare. Obs.
This is a prominent sense of G. schlinge.
c1425Cast. Persev. 1208 in Macro Plays 113 Luxuria. I may soth synge: ‘Mankynde is kawt in my slynge’.
†5. ? A quantity (of match) made up in the form of a loop or skein. Obs.
1644Prynne & Walker Fiennes's Trial App. 29 Two Barrells of Musket and Carabine shot, and two slings of Match for the use of the said Tower Harris.
6. techn. in Pottery. (See quot.)
1851–3Tomlinson's Cycl. Arts (1867) II. 343/2 As the clay issues from the pug-mill it is cut into lengths of about 2 feet with a sling, or wire-knife, consisting of a piece of wire with two handles.
7. attrib. and Comb., as sling-bolt, sling-rope, sling-socket; sling-back, used attrib. and absol. to designate (a) a woman's shoe which has an open back and is held on by a strap across the heel; so sling-backed a.;(b) a type of chair characterized by a fabric seat suspended from a rigid frame; sling-bag, a bag with a long strap which may be hung from the shoulder; sling-cart Mil., a two-wheeled cart to which a cannon is slung in order to be transported; sling chair U.S., a sling-back chair (see sling-back (b) above); sling-dog, -hoop (see quots.); sling-jacket (see quot. 1900); sling-life-buoy (see quot.); sling-load, sling load, a load which is lifted in a sling; also (with hyphen) as v. trans.; sling pump N. Amer., a sling-back shoe (see sling-back (a) above); sling-sleeve, a form of sleeve for mantles, etc., suggestive of a sling for the arm; sling-wagon, Mil. a wagon for the same purpose as a sling-cart.
In some cases the first element might be taken as the stem of sling v.2
194910 Eventful Years (Encycl. Brit.) II. 312/2 They were soft suede slippers, little leather *sling-backs, ankle-high boots, and ballet slippers of all colours and materials. 1950‘S. Ransome’ Deadly Miss Ashley ii. 25 Neat black sling-back wedgies on small feet. 1973‘D. Jordan’ Nile Green xxvii. 119, I was sitting on a sling-back chair looking out on the Nile. 1974Country Life 21 Mar. 688/1 A canvas sling-back with a rope wedge sole for {pstlg}5. 1976B. Bova Multiple Man iii. 34, I walked across to the Scandinavian sling back that I usually sat in... I eased myself into the slingback chair. 1978Vogue 1 Mar. 131 (caption) Sling-back high heels..{pstlg}37.
1948‘J. Bell’ Wonderful Mrs Marriott vii. 86 A pair of toeless *sling-backed wedge-heeled shoes.
1965M. Spark Mandelbaum Gate vii. 218 Sturdily clutching with one thumb the shoulder strap of her *sling-bag. 1976Woman's Weekly 6 Nov. 11/1 The letter still lay in the bottom of her sling bag.
1875Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. vi. (ed. 2) 223 Toggle it with a stretcher through the aftermost of the foremost *sling bolts.
1802James Milit. Dict. s.v. Ropes, Drags for the gin, for the *sling-cart and waggon. 1859F. A. Griffiths Artill. Man. (1862) 123 Sling Cart. This cart is used for moving heavy guns, not exceeding 65 cwt., on hard, level roads, and for 8-inch, and 10-inch mortars. 1879Man. Artill. Exerc. 510 There are two descriptions of sling carts in the service, both of wood, the one..will carry 31/4 tons; the other..56 cwt.
1957Holiday Nov. 141/1 The *sling, or Hardoy, chair, a leather suspension from a rigid metal cradle, adapted from a wooden folding chair used by Italian officers in North Africa. 1978L. Block Burglar in Closet ix. 75 Jillian..sat in a sling chair.
1863A. Young Naut. Dict. 130 Two of this latter kind fastened together through the eyes by a rope..are called *Sling-dogs. 1875Knight Dict. Mech., Sling-dog, an iron hook with a fang at one end and an eye at the other for a rope. Used in pairs for hoisting, hauling, rafting, etc.
1846A. Young Naut. Dict. 286 A lower yard is hung by chains, called slings, attached to the *sling-hoop and mast head. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Sling-Hoop, that which suspends the yard from the mast, by which it is hoisted and lowered.
1900Hardy in Sphere 21 Apr. 419/2 In those days the Hussar regiments still wore over the left shoulder that attractive attachment, or frilled half-coat, hanging loosely behind like the wounded wing of a bird, which was called the pelisse, though it was known among the troopers themselves as a ‘*sling-jacket’. 1908― Dynasts III. ii. 1 Will the gay sling-jacket glow again beside the muslin gown?
1882Encycl. Brit. XIV. 572/2 The rescuers haul off the hawser, to which is hung the travelling or *sling lifebuoy.
1933M. Lowry Ultramarine v. 213 The cargo, chests of tea, was hoisted in *slingloads of ten from the piles. 1968Globe & Mail (Toronto) 3 Feb. b1/2 The union was asking for a 22-man basic work gang: extensive sling-load limitations, [etc.]. 1969Jane's Freight Containers 1968–69 8/1 The line of action of the sling load is assumed to be parallel to and not more than 38 mm..from the outer face of the corner fitting. 1969I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam x. 176 A Chinook to sling-load our chopper back to Phuoc Vinh.
1941Women's Wear Daily 31 Oct. i. 13/1 The shoe which so many retailers claimed they could not sell, the *sling pump, is due to make another trip, very definitely an evidence that women want them and like them. 1968Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. 12 (Advt.), Cool sandal sling pump with adjustable T-strap, low heel.
1325–6Ely Sacr. Rolls (1907) II. 59 In *slyngeropis empt. 1s. 1497Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 91 Slyng Ropes.
1888Bow Bells Weekly 6 Jan. 11/1 Mantles are generally seen either in the mantelet or *sling-sleeve shape. 1896Daily News 10 Oct. 6/3 Sling sleeves are to be seen,..with some fur capes and coats.
1609Holland Amm. Marcell. 222 Yron hookes, from which there hangeth a *sling-socket of tow or yron.
1802James Milit. Dict. s.v. Rider, A four-wheel carriage, such as the..block-carriage, and *sling-waggon. 1875Encycl. Brit. II. 664 The sling waggon is composed of a body and limber, and fitted with windlass arrangement so that guns can be slung up underneath.
Sense 3 d becomes 3 e. [3.] d. Hence, a similar device used for carrying a baby or small child.
1856Dickens Dorrit (1857) ii. i. 323 The child carried in a sling by the laden peasant woman..was quieted with picked-up grapes. 1966C. W. Hamilton Oil Tales of Mexico ii. 15 Her infant is carried on her back in a sling made from a rebosa. At feeding time, the rebosa is hitched to the side and the baby is nursed. 1975H. Jolly Bk. Child Care viii. 124 In developed countries, carrying a baby in a ‘papoose’ sling or attached to a frame on the back is becoming more popular as an occasional substitute for pushing him in a pram. 1983P. Leach Parents' A to Z (1985) 581 Pushchairs tend to put their occupants at exactly the level of vehicle exhaust pipes. She may be better off if you carry her in a sling. 1988Mother Apr. 45/1 A Mothercare sling..was marvellous and even with my bad back I found it was invaluable.
▪ III. sling, n.3|slɪŋ|
Also 6 slyng.
[f. sling v.1]
1. a. The act of slinging, throwing, etc.; a cast, fling, or throw.
The first two examples are somewhat doubtful.
1530Palsgr. 271/1 Slyng of an horse, ruade. 1558T. Phaer æneid v. N iij b, And now the right hand stroks, and now the left hand sends the slinges. 1667Milton P.L. x. 635 At one sling Of thy victorious Arm..Both Sin, and Death,..Through Chaos [were] hurld. 1849De Quincey Eng. Mail Coach Wks. 1854 IV. 355 With one sling of his victorious arm, he might snatch thee back from ruin. 1850Blackie æschylus I. 58 If with wise sling the merchant fling Into the greedy sea A part to save the whole.
b. The swing of a gallop. Cf. sling v.1 6.
1852Lever Maurice Tiernay ix, He took them [sc. fences] in the ‘sling’ of his stretching gallop.
2. slang. A drink or draught; a ‘pull’. rare.
1788J. May Jrnl. & Lett. (1873) 26 A case-bottle..filled with Hollands, of which each of us took a sling.
3. Austral. A gratuity; a bribe. Also sling back. Cf. sling v.1 9.
1948K. S. Prichard Golden Miles viii. 92 ‘There's some hungry bastards,’ the men said, ‘making big money on their ore, never give the poor bugger boggin' for 'em a sling back.’ The sling back might be ten bob on pay⁓day, or no more than a few pots of beer, but was always appreciated. Ibid. ix. 102 Sling backs to the shift boss got some men their jobs. 1953K. Tennant Joyful Condemned xxiv. 232 Say I take twenty per cent of the cop for myself..all the rest goes in slings. 1969People (Austral.) 15 Jan. 21/2 It is not uncommon for a [poker] machine to go into a club with what is known in the trade as ‘a sling’..to someone or other of the ‘power men’... These ‘slings’ can range up to $300 a machine sold. 1973Nation Rev. (Melbourne) 31 Aug. 1450/1 The hospital..must have been quite notorious in police circles. As far as I knew, we were exceptional in refusing to pay the customary sling.
▪ IV. † sling, n.4 Obs.
Also 6 Sc. slung.
[var. of slang n.1, perh. influenced by sling n.1]
A serpentine or culverin.
Southey's use of the word in his Joan of Arc v. is merely an echo of Drayton (quot. 1627).
1566in J. J. Cartwright Chapters Hist. Yks. (1872) 93 Munition or ordinaunce..abord his shipp,..one saker, 2 quarter slings. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 251 Quarter fallcouns, slingis, pestelent serpitantis and doubill doggis. 1594Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1848) II. 93 Twa peice of artailȝeirie, callit twa half slungis. 1627Drayton Agincourt xciv, Their brazen slings send in the wilde-fire balls. 1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xiv. 66 Chambers is a charge made of brasse or iron which we use to put in at the britch of a sling or Murtherer. 1648Hexham ii, Een Slange, a Culvering, or a Sling.
attrib.1547in Meyrick Ancient Armour (1824) III. 9 Slinge shotte, 20. Demi slinge shotte, 40. 1644N. Drake Siege of Pontefract (Surtees) 7 During all this time there was 15 sling-peeses shott. 1736Drake Eboracum i. v. 162 Two sling pieces, and one small drake.
▪ V. sling, n.5|slɪŋ|
[Of doubtful origin: cf. sling n.3 2.]
1. An American drink composed of brandy, rum, or other spirit, and water, sweetened and flavoured. Cf. gin-sling.
1792P. Freneau in National Gazette (Philadelphia) 28 June 280/1 Rum ne'er shall meet my lips..In shape of toddy, punch, grog, sling or dram. 1807C. W. Janson Stranger in Amer. 299 The first craving of an American in the morning is for ardent spirits mixed with sugar, mint, or some other hot herb, and which are called slings. 1836Marryat Midsh. Easy (1863) 271 You won't take a glass of sling this fine night with a countryman? 1853Wolff Pictures Sp. Life 38 Beverages..unequalled even in Paris, or in the land flowing with sling and coblers. 1871Mrs. Stowe My Wife & I ix, When the public call for hot brandy sling.
attrib.1807J. Harriott Struggles thro. Life II. 110 Mr. Miles..served his customers with sling-drams, grog, or cider, himself. 1848Bartlett Dict. Amer. s.v. Liquor, Slingflip.
2. The juice of the sugar-cane, as obtained in the manufacture of sugar.
1826H. N. Coleridge Six Months W. Indies (1832) 65 There is so much trash, so much scum, and sling, and molasses, that my nerves have sometimes sunk under it. 1871Kingsley At Last xvi, If..care were taken..not to spoil the preserves..by swamping them with sugar or sling. 1885C. G. W. Lock Workshop Rec. Ser. iv. 163/2 The difficulty is determining the exact moment when the boiling of the ‘sling’ in the striking-teach must cease.
▪ VI. sling, v.1|slɪŋ|
Pa. tense and pple. slung |slʌŋ|. Forms: inf. 4–6 slynge (6 sklynge), 5–6 slyng (5 sclyng), 5– sling. pa. tense 3–6 slong (5 sclong), 3–5 slonge, 7– slung; 4–8 (9 dial.) slang, 4–6 slange (5 slaunge); 6–7 (9 dial.) slinged. pa. pple. 5 slongyn, -ene, 6 -en; 5 slungyn, -in, -en, 7– slung, 9 dial. slinged.
[prob. ad. ON. slyngva (pa. tense slǫng, slungu, pa. pple. slungenn) in the same sense; cf. Norw. slyngia, Da. slynge (Sw. slunga).
A strong verb slingan (slang, slung-) is also found in OHG. (and OE. ?), and is represented by MHG. (M)LG., and MDu. slingen (G. schlingen), but usually has the sense ‘to creep, wind, twist’, etc., although the sense ‘to throw, sling’ appears in MHG. and mod.G. dialects. (Kilian's ‘slinghen, funda jacere’ is not otherwise certified as a Flemish use.) OF. eslinguer, eslinder (mod.Norm. and Pic. élinguer) is of Teutonic origin, but its immediate source is not clear.
A weak verb from the stem slang- is represented by ON. slengva, -ja (Icel. and Norw. slengja, Sw. slänga, Da. slænge), and by LG. slengen, G. schlengen. The ON. form would have given early ME. *sleng, and this would subsequently have become sling.]
I. trans.
1. a. To strike, to bring or knock down, by means of a sling. rare.
a1225Juliana 63 (Bodl. MS.), Þe lutle dauið..slong & ofsloh wið a stan to deaðe þe stronge Golie. 1699Potter Antiq. Greece iii. iv. II. 52 We are told by some..that young Children were not allow'd any Food by their Mothers, 'till they could sling it down from the Beam, where it was plac'd aloft.
b. To throw or cast (stones, etc.) by means of a sling. Also fig.
c1315Shoreham vi. 26 Þou ert þe slinge, þy sone þe ston Þat dauy slange golye op-on. 1533More Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1126/1 An heauy thing it is to here of hys yong foolishe Dauid, that hath thus..with the slyng of hys heresyes slonken [sic] hymselfe to the deuill. 1539Bible 1 Sam. xvii. 49 Dauid put his hande in his bagge, and toke out a stone, and slange it. 1560― (Geneva) Judges xx. 16 All these colde sling stones at an heere breadth, and not faile. 1648Hunting of Fox 26 One of which [stones] being sling'd against the face of that uncircumciz'd Philistine, made him measure his length on the earth. 1737[see sling n.1 1]. 1825Scott Betrothed iv, A hail-storm of shafts, javelins, and stones, shot, darted, and slung by the Welsh. 1861C. Reade Cloister & H. xliii, The besiegers kept constantly slinging smaller stones on to the platform.
c. absol. To cast or discharge missiles by means of a sling; to use a sling. Also fig.
c1440Promp. Parv. 459/2 Slyngyn, fundo, fundibalo. 1530Palsgr. 721/2, I holde the a penye I slynge as farre as thou. 1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1663) 30 They vexed one another, they slinged one at another, but there was none to bridle them. 1623Bingham Xenophon 53 The Rhodians slinged further, than the Persians could sling. 1861Reade Cloister & H. xliii, The besieged slung at the tower, and struck it often.
2. a. To throw, cast, hurl, or fling (a person or thing) in some direction or to some point. Usually const. with preps. or advs.
Common in 14–15th cent. Now chiefly dial. or colloq.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 355 Þat bodi..into ane diche man it drovȝ, and þare-inne man it slong. a1300Cursor M. 8930 Þar was a stank bot littel fra,..þar-in þe king[es] tre þai slang. c1386Chaucer Manciple's T. 202 To þe crowe he stert..and out at dore him slong. c1400Destr. Troy 3217 Sum þat were slayne & slungen to ground. c1440Gesta Rom. lxx. (Harl. MS.), That we shulde..take him, and sling him in our ovyn. 1530Palsgr. 721/2 And thou medell with me, I wyll slynge the in the fyre. a1547Surrey in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 4 The adder all her sloughe awaye she slinges. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 196 He slingis the ansinȝie out of his mind. 1684T. Burnet Theory Earth i. xii. 166 How were these great bodies slung thorough the Air from their respective Seas. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 36 The Platform of the City mounted with Brass Pieces that slung their Shot an incredible way. c1715Ramsay Vision xix. in Evergreen (1761) I. 224 Pan foryets to tune his Reid, And slings it cairless bye. 1835Crockett Tour Down East 37 When the captain told them I was [on board], they slung their hats, and gave three cheers. 1880F. W. Burbidge Gardens of Sun xi. 209 The imp took up one of the chocolate cups..and then slung it out at the open door. 1901N. & Q. 9th Ser. VIII. 215/1 A..spud, with which lumps of earth were dug up and slung at straying sheep.
fig.a1834Lamb Three Graves, Rivers of blood from dripping traitors spilt, By treachery slung from poverty to guilt. 1959E. H. Clements High Tension vii. 128 He'd been slung out of the test because he'd hurt his foot. 1977W. Marshall Thin Air vi. 69 He was so bloody stupid we slung him out.
†b. To cast away. Obs.
c1440York Myst. xxxii. 321 As touchyng his money..Þat Judas..has wauyd away,..Howe saie ȝe þerby? Anna. Sir, sen he it slang, we schall it saue. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4557 Gude men had grace, schrewes ware slongen, To drery dede doune war þai dongen.
c. Of sheep: To cast (a lamb). Cf. slink v. 3.
So LG. slengen, G. schlingen (see Grimm).
1750[see slung ppl. a.1 1]. 1794Young's Annals Agric. XXII. 225 Ewes are apt to sling their lambs.
d. absol. To strike or launch out in boxing.
1812Sporting Mag. XL. 174 He seems to have copied from Crib, as he slings out well with the left hand in retreating.
3. In various colloquial or slang uses.
a. To utter (words).
b. To hand round, distribute, dispense. Also in phr. to sling hash, to wait at tables. U.S. Cf. hash-slinger s.v. hash n.1 6.
c. to sling ink, to write articles, etc.
d. to sling one's Daniel or hook, to make off, clear out. See also hook n.1 16 b.
e. To use or relate (some form of speech) to a person; to speak or utter (language, etc.) well or fluently; to sling the bull, to talk glib nonsense (U.S.). Cf. sense 3 a above.
f. (See quots.)
g. To give up, abandon; also to sling in or sling up.
a.c1400Laud Troy Bk. 6581 But Eneas be war, he abyes The bolde wordes that [he] dede sclyng.
b.1860Slang Dict. 218 Sling, to pass from one person to another. 1889H. O'Reilly 50 Yrs. on Trail 7 As junior waiter..I could sling dishes around with the best of them. 1876[see Calamity Jane s.v. calamity 3]. 1903Daily Chron. 31 Aug. 3/4, I have a friend in Beira,..who ‘slings drinks’ in a saloon. I believe he slings them very efficiently. 1906‘O. Henry’ Four Million 106 I'm going back there and ask her to marry me. I guess she won't want to sling hash any more when she sees the pile of dust I've got. 1949Life 24 Oct. 20/2 She..slung hash for a couple of weeks.
c.1870‘Artemus Ward’ Wks. 305 You ask me, sir, to sling ink for your paper.
d.1873J. Greenwood In Strange Company 338 [He] swore..that if we did not that instant ‘sling our Daniels’,..he would [etc.]. 1874Slang Dict. 295 Sling your hook, a polite invitation to move-on. 1897Daily News 1 Sept. 2/2 If you don't sling yer hook this minute, here goes a pewter pot at yer head.
e.1874E. Eggleston Circuit Rider vii. 72 He was beginning to sling his rude metaphors to the right and left. 1881Mrs. E. Lynn Linton My Love I. xii. 220, I am awfully sorry if I slung you any slang. 1892Kipling Barrack-Room Ballads 67 An' 'ow they would admire for to hear us sling the bat [= speak the language]. 1904Strand Mag. Mar. 254/1 Maybe you think I am just slinging you a yarn. 1904G. B. Shaw Lett. to Granville Barker (1956) 27 One of them, the stage Irishman,..might be done by, say, Neville Doone, if he can sling the dialect. 1934T. E. Lawrence Let. 8 June (1938) 806 In such an eyewash job as this of mine, the power to sling the gab would be very helpful. 1940A. H. Marckward Scribner Handbk. Eng. vii. 212 Undoubtedly the chief reason for the conversational effectiveness of many individuals is their inherent ability to sling it. 1982Verbatim Autumn 14/2 Watch out for..the low-down curs and dirty dogs, who sling the bull and then send you on a wild goose chase.
f.c18905 Years' Penal Servitude ii. 56 ‘Slinging his hook’ is the professional term for picking pockets. Ibid. 59 His ‘mate’ soon finds out who the ‘blooming screw’ is that ‘slung the smash’—i.e. brought in the tobacco.
g.1902H. Lawson Children of Bush 240 Just you sling it [i.e. drink] for a year and then look back... Sling it for good, Joe. 1910G. B. Lancaster Jim of Ranges ii. 48 I've slung her [sc. Queensland] up. Guv her the go, the ole jade. 1911G. B. Shaw Blanco Posnet 384 Stow it, Boozy. Sling it. Cut it. Cheese it. Shut up. 1953K. Tennant Joyful Condemned xxxii. 309 We both slung in our jobs..and went off after him.
†4. To beat or whip (the white of an egg). Obs.
c1450M.E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 196 [Take] þe whyte of viij. eyren, & slyng hem wel.., & euer styre faste. Ibid. 197 [Take] .ix. whytes of eyron, & slyngge hem, & mak hem in gleyr.
II. intr.
5. To move with some force or speed; to fly as if thrown by a sling; to fling oneself.
13..K. Alis. 5538 (Laud MS.), On þe destrer onon he slang, Als arewe of bowe forþ he sprang. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 14252 He let his stede to him flyng Als harde as he myght slyng. c1430Hymns Virgin (1867) 120 Thorowe the strength off þe wynd Into the Welken hitt schall slynge. 1582Stanyhurst æneis (Arb.) 137 From whence, with flownce furye slinging, Stoans, and burlye bulets, lyke tamponds, maynelye be towring. 1790Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 214 The ship, for some time, was ungovernable, and slung up in the wind. 1821Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 65 Thou corner-chair, In which I've oft slung back in deep despair.
6. To advance, walk, etc., with long or swinging strides. Chiefly Sc. or north. and Austral.
1808in Jamieson. 1818J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck iii, I slings aye on wi' a gay lang step. 1828Carr Craven Gloss. s.v., ‘My horse slings away at a girt rate,’ that is, he quits the ground with apparent ease. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer vi. 48 All day they was very sulky and slinged along, and wouldn't feed. 1893J. A. Barry Steve Brown's Bunyip 17, I saw the man slinging off into the scrub.
7. Of a millstone: To swing from side to side.
1875Knight Dict. Mech. 1020/1.
8. to sling off (at), to jeer (at). Austral. and N.Z. colloq.
1911S. Rudd Dashwoods 24, I heard yer both slingin' off. 1916Anzac Bk. 31, I could not understand them slinging off at 'im and 'im thinking they were treatin' 'im like as 'e was one of themselves. 1921K. S. Prichard Black Opal xiii. 112 The rest of the men continued nevertheless to ‘sling off’, as they said, at Bully and Roy O'Mara as they saw fit. 1941Coast to Coast 232 ‘Why was he so wild?’ ‘Aw, it was just some chaps'd been slinging off at him,’ I said. 1960N. Hilliard Maori Girl iii. vii. 221 The pakehas think you're slinging off about them or saying something rude. 1963J. Cantwell No Stranger to Flame v. 86 ‘Stop it,’ Barry said, flushing. ‘Stop slinging off.’ 1975M. R. Liverani Winter Sparrows ii. xv. 232 She glowered at the driver suspiciously. Was he slinging off at her?
9. To pay a bribe or gratuity. Occas. with it. Cf. sling n.3 3. Austral.
1939K. Tennant Foveaux ii. 172 ‘I'm slinging it to Hamp,’ Bardy said sullenly. 1949L. Glossop Lucky Palmer 5 Clarrie, he ain't gone off in six months. Must sling to the cops. Wonder how much he pays 'em. 1953T. A. G. Hungerford Riverslake vi. 130 ‘Sling, Stefan!’ When the Pole looked at him uncomprehendingly Murdoch whipped a ten-pound note out of the bundle and handed it to the ring-keeper. ‘He don't know,’ he explained. ‘It's the first time he's played.’ 1971F. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah 56 On first name terms with every shire President so long as they didn't forget to sling when backhanders came in.
▪ VII. sling, v.2|slɪŋ|
Also 6 slyng.
[f. sling n.2]
1. a. trans. To place in, or secure with, a sling or slings in order to admit of or facilitate hoisting or lowering; to raise up or let down by means of a sling or slings.
1522MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For the dyner of iij men that holp slyng and lyft the cow that broke her legg. c1625Nomenclator Navalis (MS. Harl. 2301), Sling is to make faste anie Caske, Ordnance, Yarde, or ye like in a paire of Slings. 1669Sturmy Mariner's Mag. v. xii. 81 [He may] have himself [let] down..to the bottom of the Sea..and sling the Ship, and Guns. 1771Luckombe Hist. Print. 327 He..slings the Stone in two strong pack-threds, placing one towards either end of the Stone. 1803Phil. Trans. XCIII. 322 The ship being in the fore-mentioned state,..I next proceeded to sling her; which was done with two nineteen-inch cables. 1869Rankine Machine & Hand-tools Pl. O 3, It terminates with the usual hook and swivel for slinging the load.
b. With adverbial complement.
1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xiii. 60 Let vs..sling a man ouer boord to stop the leakes. 1692Dryden Cleomenes i. i, Amidst the shouts Of mariners, and busy care to sling His horses soon ashore, he saw not me. 1833T. Hook Parson's Dau. iii. xi, The horses were slung down into the stalls. 1890Doyle White Company xv, Horse after horse was slung by main force up from the barges.
2. Naut. To pass chains or lashings round (a sail or yard) to secure it to the mast.
1626Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 6 Fore-mast men, to take in the Topsayles,..Furle, and Sling the maine Saile. 1669Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. ii. 19 Sling our Main Yard, with the Chains in the Main-top. 1777Cook Voy. S. Pole iii. ii. II. 17 The yard is slung nearly in the middle, or upon an equipoise. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 632. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2211/2 To sling the yards for action is to secure them at the slings by iron chains fitted for the purpose.
3. To hang or suspend, to fix or fasten (something) about the person in a sling or in a loose manner so as to be carried easily.
Usually const. with preps., as across, from, or over (the shoulders or back); at, by, (up)on, to, etc. (the side, arm, etc.); about or round (the neck or person).
1688Holme Armoury iii. xix. (Roxb.) 153/1 Granadeers haue a care. Sling your musketts. 1791Cowper Iliad i. 55 The God,..with his radiant bow And his full quiver o'er his shoulder slung, Marched in his anger. 1814S. Rogers Jacqueline i. 41 He slung his old sword by his side. 1833Regul. & Instr. Cavalry i. 169 The lance is slung on the left arm. 1859Jephson Brittany vi. 82 A guitar slung round her neck by a blue ribbon. 1885Law Rep. 14 Q.B.D. 725 A police constable saw the appellant..with some rabbits slung over his back.
4. a. To hang up or suspend, esp. from one point to another; to put up (a hammock). Also in phr. to sling one's hammock, to have a period of time off-duty to get used to a new ship. Naut.
1697Dryden Virg. Past. iii. 150 From Rivers drive the Kids, and sling your Hook. 1706E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 97 Sling him up in a Hammock, and he shall lie a whole Night. 1730A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 18 These Theatres were not founded in the Ground, but slung, and supported in the Air; that is, they both rested on Hinges and Pivots. 1779Mirror No. 17 The poor little creatures sleep..in a hammock, slung up to the roof. 1824L. M. Hawkins Annaline II. 213 Attendants [were] slinging their grass woven hammocks. 1853Sir H. Douglas Milit. Bridges (ed. 3) 354 The platform or road-way is slung, by vertical tackles, to points equidistant from each other. 1883Law Rep. 11 Q.B.D. 506 The dock owner supplied..an ordinary stage to be slung..outside the ship for the purpose of painting her. 1913T. T. Jeans John Graham Sub-Lieutenant R.N. iii. 58 There was no ‘school’ till morning, the Padré had a day off ‘to sling his hammock’. 1917‘Taffrail’ Sub iii. 92 ‘You'll have to-morrow to sling your hammock and to get used to the ship, youngster,’ he went on. 1946G. Hackforth-Jones Sixteen Bells i. iv. 67 Reggie was hardly given a day to ‘sling his hammock’ before he was instructed to take over the afternoon watch.
b. to sling the monkey, a kind of game played by sailors.
1838Bentley's Miscell. III. 588 But I say,..did you ever play sling the monkey? Ibid. 589 I'm bless'd, shipmates, if we didn't sling the monkey in fine style. 1893Sloane-Stanley Rem. Midshipm. Life II. iii. 51 Whilst we Middies were playing sling the monkey the ship's company were diverting themselves in a variety of ways. [A full description of the game is given on page 50.]
5. techn. in Pottery. (See quot.)
1851–3Tomlinson's Cycl. Arts (1867) II. 343/2 If the clay be very foul, or full of stones, it is slung; that is, as the clay issues from the pug-mill it is cut into lengths of about 2 feet with a sling, or wire-knife.
▪ VIII. sling, v.3 U.S.
[f. sling n.5 1.]
intr. To drink or take sling.
1836–8Haliburton Clockm. (1862) 444, I ordered a pint o' the best [toddy], and so we slinged. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 632 On the American coast..the custom of slinging prevails..extensively, even where intoxication is despised. |