Nearby Words

flings

[fling] Origin

fling

[fling] verb, flung, fling·ing, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to throw, cast, or hurl with force or violence: to fling a stone.
2.
to move (oneself) violently with impatience, contempt, or the like: She flung herself angrily from the room.
3.
to put suddenly or violently: to fling a suspect into jail.
4.
to project or speak sharply, curtly, or forcefully: He flung his answer at the questioner.
5.
to involve (oneself) vigorously in an undertaking.
EXPAND
6.
to move, do, or say (something) quickly: to fling a greeting in passing.
7.
to send suddenly and rapidly: to fling fresh troops into a battle.
8.
to throw aside or off.
9.
to throw to the ground, as in wrestling or horseback riding.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
10.
to move with haste or violence; rush; dash.
11.
to fly into violent and irregular motions, as a horse; throw the body about, as a person.
12.
to speak harshly or abusively (usually followed by out): He flung out disgustedly against the whole human race.

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Flings is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
noun
13.
an act of flinging.
14.
a short period of unrestrained pursuit of one's wishes or desires: The week of partying was my last fling before starting a new job.
15.
an attempt at something: He took a fling at playwriting.
16.
a critical or contemptuous remark; gibe.
17.
Also called Highland fling. a lively Scottish dance characterized by flinging movements of the arms and legs.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English; compare Swedish flänga to fly, race

out·fling, verb (used with object), -flung, -fling·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To flings
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

fling
c.1300, probably from O.N. flengja, of uncertain origin. The M.E. intransitive sense is preserved in phrase have a fling at "make a try." The noun sense of "period of indulgence on the eve of responsibilities" first attested 1827. Meaning "vigorous dance" (associated with the Scottish Highlands) is from
EXPAND
1806. An obsolete word for "streetwalker, harlot" was fling-stink (1679).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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