Hurtle
/ˈhɜːr.təl/noun
To move or cause to move at high speed, often in a rough or uncontrolled way.
Did you know?In older English, related forms of this root could mean to strike or clash together, so the word carries the sound of collision long before it meant speed.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hyrstlian
“to make a noise or clash; to strike against”
Middle English
ME
hurtlen
“to dash together, collide, clash noisily”
14th Century
English
hurtle
“to collide or strike with force”
16th-17th Century
English
hurtle
“to move rapidly with force, often with the sense of violent motion”
Modern English
English
hurtle
“to move or cause to move at high speed, often in a rough or uncontrolled way”