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Fling

//ˈflɪŋ// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    An act of throwing, often violently.
  2. 2
    the act of flinging wordnet
  3. 3
    An act of moving the limbs or body with violent movements, especially in a dance.

    "the fling of a horse"

  4. 4
    a brief indulgence of your impulses wordnet
  5. 5
    An act or period of unrestrained indulgence.

    "When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure."

Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    a usually brief attempt wordnet
  2. 7
    A short romantic, oftentimes sexual, relationship.

    "a summer fling"

  3. 8
    An attempt, a try. figuratively

    "give it a fling"

  4. 9
    A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe or taunt. obsolete

    "I, who love to have a fling, / Both at senate house and king."

  5. 10
    A lively Scottish country dance.

    "the Highland fling"

  6. 11
    A trifling matter; an object of contempt. obsolete

    "ante 1800, old proverb England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing."

Verb
  1. 1
    To throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl. transitive

    "'Tis Fate that casts the Dice, and as she flings, Of Kings makes Pedants, and of Pedants Kings."

  2. 2
    throw with force or recklessness wordnet
  3. 3
    To move (oneself) abruptly or violently; to rush or dash. intransitive, literary

    "And crop-full, out of doors he flings."

  4. 4
    move in an abrupt or headlong manner wordnet
  5. 5
    To throw; to wince; to flounce. archaic, intransitive

    "The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    throw or cast away wordnet
  2. 7
    To utter abusive language; to sneer. intransitive, literary

    "The scold began to flout and fling."

  3. 8
    indulge oneself wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English fling, from the verb (see below). Compare Icelandic flengur (“a fast sprint”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English flyngen, from Old Norse flengja (“to whip”), from Proto-Germanic *flangijaną (“to beat, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k- (“to beat”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k-, *pleh₂g- (“to beat”). Cognate with Icelandic flengja (“to spank”), Norwegian flengja (“to rip, tear, or fling open”).

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