Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mudslinger” come from?

mudslinger (English) comes from English slinger, from Middle English slynger, from Middle English slynge, from Middle English slyngen, from Old Norse slyngja, from Proto-Germanic slingwaną, from Proto-Indo-European slenk-, from Proto-Indo-European sel- — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.

mudslinger (English): One who casts aspersions or insults; especially a...

Definitions

  1. One who casts aspersions or insults; especially a...

Ancestry of “mudslinger”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishslingerSomeone who slings or who uses a sling
2Middle Englishslyngerslinger
3Middle EnglishslyngeA sling; A piece of fabric suspended between...
4Middle EnglishslyngenTo sling, hurl, or toss; To use a weapon to hurl...
5Old Norseslyngja—
6Proto-Germanicslingwanąto swing, sling; to wind, twist
7Proto-Indo-Europeanslenk-to turn; wind; twist; to turn, to twist, to wind;...
8Proto-Indo-Europeansel-dwelling; piece of wood; beam, post, balk, board,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanser-to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ser- →