Sling
/slɪŋ/noun
A flexible strap or band used to throw or support something, or a thrown weapon made of a cord with a pouch.
Did you know?The throwing weapon sense of sling is ancient and belongs to the same deep Indo-European family as words for twisting and winding, which is why the core idea is a cord or band that wraps and launches.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*slei-
“to bend, curve, or be slippery”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*slingōną
“to throw, hurl, or swing”
Old English
English
slingan
“to throw, cast, or wind about”
Middle English
English
slinge
“a band, loop, or device for hurling missiles”
Modern English
English
sling
“a strap for support or a device for throwing stones”