Middle English Dictionary Entry
flingen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | flingen v. Also flengen. Forms: p. sg. flang, flong, flonc, flung, flonged; p. pl. flungen, flongen, flang(e. |
| Etymology | Cp. OI flengja; the past tense forms are modeled on the type of stingen, stang, stungen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To dash, run, rush; ~ to armes, to spring to arms; ~ forth, ~ on, ~ out; fig. to travel swiftly (over the sea); (b) comen ~, comen flinging, to come running, come with a rush; ~ togeder, rush together, clash; (c) of things: to move swiftly, to be swung or thrown or shot forth, to fly or hurtle; of a flail: to be swung, to beat (upon something); of a lance: to pierce, thrust.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)474 : Als so harde as þou mixt flynge on, a-rede me on þe schelde.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2103 : To armes hij flongen euerychon.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1165 : Hit payed hym not þat I so flonc Ouer meruelous merez, so mad arayde.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)68/1034 : For hir son she gan flynge [St.Alex.(1): ȝe sterte forþ in haste], In Rage as a lyonesse.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8698 : Many an ost saw he comyng, Rydande faste whil thei may fflyng.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2757-62 : Florennt and Floridas..on þe way fowndys, Flyngande a faste trott..He flenges to sir Florent.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1218 : Ser Meliager..Flingis out [Dub: Flyngez forth] on a fole.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1089 : Hir host gan turne bak and fle, Vpon horsbake as fast as they myght flynge.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)813/25 : Parsydes saw a knyght whyche cam oute of the castell as faste as ever he myght flynge.
- a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)31/831* : He flonge ow[t] on a fers fole, far from hys hoste.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)186/1029 : Ouer þe see þey flyng Awey, With XII hundred sheppis.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3916 : Þe hors of baundoun lete þai frem & come flingand wiþ al her men.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)4162 : Out of here sadles þai gonne springe And wiþ fauchouns to gedere flinge.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)29/631 : Þe greihond com ȝerne flingging [Eg: anon to hyr ganne flynge].
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)674 : Wiþ þe strokes þat þis frekes slente, flyngande togader in fiȝte, Hur helmes & haberions þay to rente.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5150 : Ypotamos comen flyngynge Out of roches, loude nayinge.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6068 : Boþe parties flungen [LinI: flang] togederes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1563 : Þe erþe gan to tremble Furiously as þei togidre flinge.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1070 : Þey siȝe a rach come flinge [vr. com flyngynge] Overþwert þe way.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2812 : The Sarezynes..comen afftyr ffaste fflyngyng.
c
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)84/89 : Fleyles on hym gun flynge. Þey flapped on his feire flesch.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2744 : Þorouȝ þe herte þe launce flang.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)213/381 : Lo, my crouchis whare þei flee, Als ferre as I may lete þam flenge With bothe my hende.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)269 : Well-feþered flon floungen aboute, Grim arowes..Wer enforced to flie.
2.
(a) To strike out (with a weapon), to strike (at someone); to strike (a blow); to dash (someone) about, to beat (someone); ~ to deth, to kill with a blow; (b) ~ out, ~ out with, to draw (a weapon); (c) to throw (something), cast; to shoot (at something).
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)583 : So þikke he smot to Olyuer as he miȝte flynge.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)10834 : Aboute the sadel the hors him flonged, Til he him ouer his sadel cast.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.782 : But war the horn and heelis, lest they flinge A flappe to thee.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11112 : Pirrus..flang at hir felly with a fyne swerd.
- c1475 7 Sages(1) (Eg 1995)36/951 : He..hete hys turmentourys hys body flynge, And to dyspytous dethe hym brynge.
b
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)362 : Togeder þey gonne spring And fauchouns out to fling.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8843 : Alphenor the fuerse flung he to dethe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)263/14 : They flange oute with her swerdes and gaff many sore strokys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)829/5 : Than they avoyded there horsys and flange oute there noble swerdys.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.550 : Let bene..or ficches fling Aforn hem.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1348 : He had in his hand..A growen grape..Þe quilke he flange [Dub: flonge] on þe flore.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3839 : He felly with flane flingis at þe wallis.