Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
Language outside of conventional usage and in the informal register.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Language that is unique to a particular profession or subject; jargon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The specialized language of a social group, sometimes used to conceal one's meaning from outsiders; cant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A particular variety of slang; the slang used by a particular group.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An item of slang; a slang word or expression.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A curse word.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: India, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dialectal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A fetter worn on the leg by a convict.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A counterfeit weight or measure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A travelling show, or one of its performances.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A hawker's license.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A watchchain.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To vocally abuse, or shout at.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
simple past of sling
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, form-of, past
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To sell (something, especially illegal drugs).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Multicultural-London-English, transitive
Qualifier: African-American Vernacular
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sling, flog
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: cant, jargon, lingo, argot, patois, vernacular
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: non-standard speech
Narrower terms: street name, rhyming slang
noun
informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions; often vituperative or vulgar
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: slang expression, slang term
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: non-standard speech
verb
abuse with coarse language
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: abuse, clapperclaw, blackguard, shout
verb
fool or hoax
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: gull, dupe, befool, cod, fool, put on, take in, put one over, put one across
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: deceive, betray, lead astray
Narrower terms: pull the leg of, kid
verb
use slang or vulgar language
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: speak, talk
History
First use appears c. 1756, meaning "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves", origin unknown. Not believed to be connected with language or lingo. Possibly derived from a North Germanic source, then possibly related to Nordic language: Danish slænge, Icelandic and Norwegian Nynorsk slengja, Norwegian slenge, Swedish slänga (“to (carelessly) sling, throw, hurl; throw away, to dispose of; to flail”), with derivational nouns such as slæng, sleng, släng etc. Compare the compound: Danish slængenavn, Norwegian slengenavn, Norwegian Nynorsk slengenamn, Swedish slängnamn (“nickname, byname, informal name”, literally “sling-name”), and the phrases: Norwegian Nynorsk slengja kjeften, Swedish slänga käften (“to abuse verbally”, literally “to sling one's jowl”), Swedish slänga ur sig (“to say something hastily, carelessly, thoughtlessly”, literally “to throw out of oneself”), also Swedish (regional) slänga (“careless, nonchalant girl”, literally “sling + feminine suffix -a”).
Compare sling.
The same as sling which is also used in this sense. The vowel exhibits the lowering of /ɪ/ before /ŋ/ distinguishing for African American Vernacular English, as in thang for thing, but the word has spread with this pronunciation outside the accents that exhibit this feature.
Across languages
68 source translations are retained for this English entry.
