What is the meaning of sling?

Answer 1

As a noun a sling is a weapon or tool used to throw a stone, rock, or similarly shaped metal projectile (usually called shot.). The basic sling is a leather pouch for holding the projectile with a thong or cord fastened to opposite ends of the pouch. More or less a long string with the pouch in the middle. One end of the cord usually has a loop or is tied to the slingers hand, the projectile is placed in the pouch, the other end of the cord is held in the same hand. The sling is spun quickly a few times so that the projectile swings in a fast circle, the free end of the cord is released which causes the projectile to be released from the pouch at a higher speed than could be thrown by hand. The sling goes back to pre-historic times, from all over the world, no one knows who invented it or where or when.

The word sling goes back to an old Germanic word, slenganan, .actually a verb, meaning "thist, twirl, or spin."

Other things are called slings because they look like that sling. Ropes, sometimes with a pouchlike attachement. are placed around heavy objects with the ends attached to some device for lifting. An injured arm can be placed in a piece of cloth or cords with the ends tied behind the neck.

Use of sling as modern verb comes from the noun use of rock thrower, strictly speaking it means to throw something with a sling but has come to mean throwing in general, a pitcher can sling a Baseball, a spinning bicycle wheel can sling water, etc. Sling can also mean to suspend or hang something in or from a sling like support. It can be used metaphorically as a speaker slinging insults. The past tense is slung.

Sling is used as an adjective to describe something that looks like a sling or is supported at two opposite ends. A sling hammock is a wide fabric platform, the "pouch," with cords at each end fastened to supports so that the platform is suspended between them. There are sling chairs, sling back dresses , sling back shoes, etc.

"Sling shot" is sometimes used for the original sling. More recently sling shot is used for a Y shaped piece of tree branch, or similarly shaped manufactured substitute, with an elastic cord or band fastened to each upper end of the Y and a pouch joining the other ends of the elastic. Drawing back and releasing the pouch throws rhe projectile. Such a device is more properly called a catapult.

There are sweetened alcoholic drinks known as slings. This use started in America around 1800 and is of uncertain origin. It may come from "throwing back" or quickly swallowing a drink or it may be related to another German word, schlingen, unrelated to sling, meaning swallow.