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Sling vs Sting - What's the difference?

sling | sting |

As verbs the difference between sling and sting

is that sling is to throw with a circular or arcing motion while sting is to hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.

As nouns the difference between sling and sting

is that sling is an instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other while sting is a bump left on the skin after having been stung.

sling

English

Verb

  • To throw with a circular or arcing motion.
    • (Addison)
  • To throw with a sling.
  • * Bible, Judges xx. 16
    • Everyone could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss.
  • (nautical) To pass a rope around (a cask, gun, etc.) preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.

    • Derived terms

    * undersling

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (weapon) An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1786, author=Francis Grose, title=A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page=43
    • , passage=The Sling is also a weapon of great antiquity, formerly in high estimation among the ancients.}}
  • A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported.
  • A loop of cloth, worn around the neck, for supporting a baby.
  • A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering.
  • A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder.
  • (nautical) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; -- chiefly in the plural.
  • The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.
  • * Milton
    • At one sling / Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1600, author=William Shakespeare, title=Hamlet'', Act III, Scene I, line 55
    • , passage=To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them.}}
  • (climbing) A loop of rope or fabric tape used for various purposes: e.g. as part of a runner, or providing extra protection when abseiling or belaying.
  • A drink composed of a spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened.
    • gin sling
    a Singapore sling

    sting

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bump left on the skin after having been stung.
  • A bite by an insect.
  • A pointed portion of an insect or arachnid used for attack.
  • A sharp, localised pain primarily on the epidermis
  • (botany) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secretes an acrid fluid, as in nettles.
  • The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging.
  • * Shakespeare
    • the lurking serpent's mortal sting
  • (law enforcement) A police operation in which the police pretend to be criminals in order to catch a criminal.
  • A short percussive phrase played by a drummer to accent the punchline in a comedy show.
  • A brief sequence of music used in films, TV as a form of punctuation in a dramatic or comedic scene. In certain videogames stings are used to predict immediate future actions or to illustrate a current tension or mood.
  • A support for a wind tunnel model which extends parallel to the air flow.
  • *
  • (figurative) The harmful or painful part of something.
  • * Bible, 1 Corinthians xv. 56
    • The sting of death is sin.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 19 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Just as it appeared Arsenal had taken the sting out of the tie, Johnson produced a moment of outrageous quality, thundering a bullet of a left foot shot out of the blue and into the top left-hand corner of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the Pole grasping at thin air. }}
  • A goad; incitement.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.
    • Synonyms
    * (pointed portion of an insect) stinger

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) stingen, from (etyl) . Compare Swedish and Icelandic stinga.

    Verb

  • To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both.
    • Right so came out an adder of a little heathbush, and it stung a knight in the foot.
    Still, it stung when a slightly older acquaintance asked me why I couldn't do any better.
  • (of an insect) To bite.
  • (sometimes figurative) To hurt, to be in pain.
    • My hand stings after knocking on the door so long.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 11 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=But Birmingham were clearly stung by some harsh words from manager Alex McLeish at the break and within 15 minutes of the restart the game had an entirely different complexion.}}
  • (figurative) To cause harm or pain to.
    • I thought I could park in front of the hotel, but they stung me for five pounds!
    Derived terms
    * sting like a bee * stingy

    Anagrams

    * English irregular verbs ----