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definitions

hurling

[hur-ling]
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noun
  1. the act of throwing or casting, especially with great force or strength.
  2. 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.
  3. (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.

Origin of hurling

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at hurl, -ing1

hurl

[hurl]
verb (used with object)
  1. to throw or fling with great force or vigor.
  2. to throw or cast down.
  3. to utter with vehemence: to hurl insults at the umpire.
verb (used without object)
  1. to throw a missile.
  2. Baseball. to pitch a ball.
noun
  1. a forcible or violent throw; fling.

Origin of hurl

1175–1225; Middle English hurlen, equivalent to hur- (perhaps akin to hurry) + -len -le; akin to Low German hurreln to toss, Frisian hurreln to roar (said of the wind), dialectal German hurlen to roll, rumble (said of thunder)
Related formshurl·er, nounout·hurl, verb (used with object)un·hurled, adjective
Can be confusedhurdle hurl hurtle

Synonyms for hurl

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1. cast, pitch.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hurling

lob, fire, heave, sling, fling, propel, launch, toss, chunk, gun, send, chuck, project, cast, pitch, peg, bung

Examples from the Web for hurling

Contemporary Examples of hurling

Historical Examples of hurling

British Dictionary definitions for hurling

hurling

noun
  1. a traditional Irish game resembling hockey and lacrosse, played with sticks and a ball between two teams of 15 players each

hurl

verb
  1. (tr) to throw or propel with great force
  2. (tr) to utter with force; yellto hurl insults
  3. (hʌrl) Scot to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle
noun
  1. the act or an instance of hurling
  2. (hʌrl) Scot a ride in a driven vehicle
Derived Formshurler, noun

Word Origin for hurl

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.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper