hurling
[hur-ling]
- the act of throwing or casting, especially with great force or strength.
- a traditionally Irish game played by two teams of 15 players each on a rectangular field 140 yards (128 meters) long, points being scored by hitting, pushing, carrying, or throwing the leather-covered ball between the goalposts at the opponent's end of the field with a wide-bladed stick resembling a hockey stick.
- (in parts of Britain, especially Cornwall) a traditional, rural game in which two groups of players, using methods similar to those of football, vie for possession of a ball or other object and try to carry or hurl it into their own parish, village, farm, etc.
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Origin of hurling
hurl
[hurl]
- to throw or fling with great force or vigor.
- to throw or cast down.
- to utter with vehemence: to hurl insults at the umpire.
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- to throw a missile.
- Baseball. to pitch a ball.
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- a forcible or violent throw; fling.
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Origin of hurl
Synonyms
See more synonyms for hurl on Thesaurus.com1. cast, pitch.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hurling
Contemporary Examples
Islamists stood next to communists waving Palestinian flags and hurling insults at Israeli officials.
The pro-Russian activists rushed inside for shelter, and soon both sides were hurling petrol bombs at each other.
Hurling objects at your boss might not be professional, but neither is sleeping with your devoted secretary.
Sadly for the Nuge, hurling racially charged epithets at the president is not really breaking news.
Politicians at the highest levels of the Venezuelan government are hurling antigay slurs and accusing each other of being gay.
Historical Examples
"If there were not an ordinance against the hurling of missiles," finished the widower.
The Gentleman From IndianaBooth Tarkington
And here we will state shortly the most effective method of hurling the javelin.
On HorsemanshipXenophon
Dick picked it up, but aimed it at the wall opposite, hurling it forcibly.
The Grammar School Boys of GridleyH. Irving Hancock
For answer the scoundrel seized the boy, hurling him across the room.
The Grammar School Boys of GridleyH. Irving Hancock
Hurling the crust across the bridge she bade the dog fetch it.
Legend Land, Vol. 1Various
hurling
- a traditional Irish game resembling hockey and lacrosse, played with sticks and a ball between two teams of 15 players each
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hurl
- (tr) to throw or propel with great force
- (tr) to utter with force; yellto hurl insults
- (hʌrl) Scot to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle
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- the act or an instance of hurling
- (hʌrl) Scot a ride in a driven vehicle
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Word Origin
C13: probably of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for hurling
n.
verbal noun of hurl (q.v.); attested 1520s as a form of hockey played in Ireland; c.1600 as the name of a game like hand-ball that once was popular in Cornwall.
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hurl
v.
early 13c., hurlen, "to run against (each other), come into collision," later "throw forcibly" (c.1300); "rush violently" (late 14c.); perhaps related to Low German hurreln "to throw, to dash," and East Frisian hurreln "to roar, to bluster." OED suggests all are from an imitative Germanic base *hurr "expressing rapid motion;" see also hurry. The noun is attested from late 14c., originally "rushing water." For difference between hurl and hurtle (which apparently were confused since early Middle English) see hurtle.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper