overwordExplorer
ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

sling.

To throw with a circular or arcing motion.

5 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

verb/ˈslɪŋ/

  1. To throw with a circular or arcing motion.

  2. To throw with a sling.

  3. To pass a rope around (a cask, gun, etc.) preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.

  4. To hang or stow (a tool or other equipment or supplies) so that the object is ready to deploy.

  5. To sell, peddle, or distribute (often illicitly, e.g. drugs, sex, etc.).

    slang
Where this word comes from

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”)).

noun/ˈslɪŋ/

  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.

  2. A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported.

  3. A loop of cloth, worn around the neck, for supporting a baby or other such load.

  4. A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering.

  5. A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder.

  6. A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast.

    in-plural

  7. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.

  8. A loop of rope or fabric tape used for various purposes: e.g. as part of a runner, or providing extra protection when abseiling or belaying.

  9. A drink composed of a spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened.

    gin sling
    a Singapore sling
Where this word comes from

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”)).

noun

  1. A young or infant spider, such as one raised in captivity.

Where this word comes from

From a shortening of spiderling.

FROM WORD TO NAME

Try it on your idea.

sling has 5 characters. Say it out loud, try it alongside a description of your project, and see whether its meaning fits what you want to create.

sling studiosling workshello, sling

These are naming prompts. Meanings and pronunciation can vary; existing brand and domain uses have not been checked.

Explore the name generator

A word with a source.

Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.