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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sling, n. Also: slyng, sclyng(g, slung, slownge, slang. [ME and e.m.E. slyngg (1323-4), sleng(e (1338), sling (1627) a device, loop, for securing or carrying objects; slynge (c1425) a noose, snare; cf. 19th c. Eng. slang a watch chain; fetters, leg irons (1812); ? f. as Slung n.]In the mod. dial. ‘the swivels, hooks and chains of the draught-harness’ (SND, s.v. Sling n. 1). Similarly in the mod. Northumbrian dial. (EDD). Cf., also, north. Yorksh. dial. ‘a cord put over the shoulders of a wheeler and slipped on to the handles of a wheelbarrow; a yoke to carry water.’ (Ib.).

Some part of a draught-harness; appar. (part of) the means of attaching the yoke, etc. to the bridle, ? a metal strap or band for this purpose. b. In more general use: Part of the tackle used in moving large, bulky or heavy objects or materials.(a) 1449 Ayr B. Ct. 12 Nov.
A kart twa gawillolkis a rape with a sling of iring 1452 Ayr B. Ct. 16 Oct.
A cart a sling of iring and a rape 1495 Prot. Bk. J. Young 179.
A corne fork a harow sevin sclynggis a sok a culter 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 519.
The wark of the castell of Edinburg … to ane smyth in Dalkeith that mendit ij greit boltis, four slyngis, and yokegeir v s. 1523 Treas. Acc. V 223.
For the artailȝery xij^xx of ȝokkis … Item … xlviij stane of irne to be slyngis ryngis and stapillis to ane part of the saidis ȝokkisc1500-50 Pleuch-Song in Tools & Tillage I iii 178.
All that belongs to the pleugh … The chock, the yoak, the ring, the sling 1628–9 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 158. 1658 Boyd Fam. P. No. 236 (27 Feb.).
Item tua cultens [sic] and a sook foure solmes sevin slingis a missell and a draught haill foure yokis with steiplle and ringe foure yron tredwedies foure yron girthes 1664 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 96.
Ane two-horse trie with 3 yrone slings and ane swingltrie 1665 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 284.
The furnitur underwretin viz.: ane iron sling, aught cheingȝies sex bolts [etc.] 1673 Peebles B. Rec. II 88.
Some hors trees, coall creilles, yron slinges [etc.] … stollin be the said William 1695 Lanark B. Rec. 253.
Item, tuo great baulks with broads. Tuo iron slings [pr. slaigs](b) 1618 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 95.
Debursments for the afferis of the bulwark … For wands to the slownge … 4 s. … for ane tow off 14 faddome for to be ane arme to the slownge

c. Prob. erron. for Sting n. a pole. 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 146.
[Nicoll Beatie … armed with certain weapons and with hagbuts and pistolets came to the lands of Nether Liverhay where the said tenants were ploughing, and with] grite slingis and kentis [barbarously struck the oxen in the ploughs] 1650 Arbroath B. Rec. MS 6.
Dealles and tries, slings or spaikes, … so many for the hundred timber

d. ?(a) 1637 Dumfries Treas. Acc. in Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. III 329.
For ane iron slot and hespes to the south kirk doore 18 s. For ane sling and ane steple to the kirk doore, 6 s.(b) 1629 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B 9.
For slangis to the breikis, ij s.

e. ? A strap for carrying a musket. (Cf. Eng. sling (1711).) 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 516.
The … troopes wanting swords [etc.] … slings for the fyre locks and buckets and tents … to deliver … fyre locks … and the lyke number of slunges and buckets