v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Flung p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging. ] [ OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. flänga to romp, Dan. flenge to slash. ] 1. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings,
Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

I know thy generous temper well.
Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it,
It straight takes fire. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To shed forth; to emit; to scatter. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sun begins to fling
His flaring beams. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every beam new transient colors flings. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation. [ 1913 Webster ]

His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fling about, to throw on all sides; to scatter. --
To fling away, to reject; to discard. [ 1913 Webster ] Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. Shak. --
To fling down. (a) To throw to the ground; esp., to throw in defiance, as formerly knights cast a glove into the arena as a challenge. [ 1913 Webster ] This question so flung down before the guests, . . .
Was handed over by consent of all
To me who had not spoken. Tennyson. (b) To overturn; to demolish; to ruin. --
To fling in, to throw in; not to charge in an account; as, in settling accounts, one party flings in a small sum, or a few days' work. --
To fling off, to baffle in the chase; to defeat of prey; also, to get rid of. Addison. --
To fling open, to throw open; to open suddenly or with violence; as, to fling open a door. --
To fling out, to utter; to speak in an abrupt or harsh manner; as, to fling out hard words against another. --
To fling up, to relinquish; to abandon; as, to fling up a design. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the scold began to flout and fling. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste. [ 1913 Webster ]

And crop-full, out of doors he flings. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I flung closer to his breast,
As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fling out, to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and insinuations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

I, who love to have a fling,
Both at senate house and king. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A trifing matter; an object of contempt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

England were but a fling
Save for the crooked stick and the gray goose wing. Old Proverb. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. a short period during which one indulges one's wishes, whims, or desires in an unrestrained manner. [ PJC ]

6. a love affair. [ PJC ]

7. a casual or brief attempt to accomplish something. [ informal ]
Syn. -- shot. [ PJC ]

8. a period during which one tries a new activity; as, he took a fling at playing tennis. [ PJC ]

To have one's fling, to enjoy one's self to the full; to have a season of dissipation. J. H. Newman. “When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure.” D. Jerrold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who kicks up the dust; a streetwalker; a low manner. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who flings; one who jeers. [ 1913 Webster ]