sting and ling

adverb

¦stiŋən¦liŋ

Scottish

: wholly, bodily

Word History

Etymology

Scots sting pole (from Middle English, alteration of steng, from Old English) + and ling, from English and, conjunction + Scots ling (probably alteration of English line, noun); from the practice of carrying a load by a rope having both ends attached to a pole resting on the shoulders of the carriers; akin to Dutch steng pole, Old High German stengil stalk, Old English stingan to sting

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sting and ling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sting%20and%20ling. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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