Hurling
/ˈhɜːrlɪŋ/
nounverbB2present participle (when verb)
Definition
As a verb, hurling means to throw something quickly and powerfully through the air. It often suggests throwing with strong effort or anger. As a noun, hurling is a traditional Irish sport played with sticks called hurleys and a small ball called a sliotar. Players hit the ball to score goals or points.
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See It in Action
Throwing something forcefully (verb)
- •He was hurling stones into the river.
- •The angry fan was hurling insults at the referee.
- •She was hurling the ball across the field with great strength.
Irish sport (noun)
- •Hurling is one of the oldest sports in Ireland.
- •The hurling match was exciting and very fast.
- •He plays hurling every weekend with his local team.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "hurling" like "throwing," but with more power and speed—like throwing a ball very hard instead of gently tossing it
- ✓Picture a player swinging a wooden stick quickly to hit a small ball flying fast across a green field
- ✓It's the feeling when you throw something in anger or excitement, using all your strength
- ✓Sounds like "hurl-ing" → imagine someone saying "hurl" (throw hard) and adding "-ing" for action happening now
- ✓Think of the sport like a mix between baseball and hockey but played on grass, very fast and exciting
- ✓NOT like "throw" (which can be gentle or casual), "hurl" always means a strong, forceful throw
- ✓NOT like "pitch" (used in baseball for throwing to a batter), "hurl" can be throwing anything with strong force, not just a ball in a game
- ✓In sport, hurling is NOT like soccer or rugby because players use sticks to hit the ball, not just feet or hands
Try Other Words
- •Throw: to send something through the air with your hand (Use when the action is less forceful or emotional)
- •Fling: to throw something carelessly or quickly (Use when the throw is done without much care)
- •Pitch: to throw a ball in sports like baseball (Use in sports contexts where the throw is controlled and aimed)
- •Toss: to throw something lightly or gently (Use when the throw is soft or casual)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "hurl" + suffix "-ing" (shows action in progress or noun for the activity)
- •Etymology: Old English "hyrling" from "hyrle" meaning to whirl or throw with force
- •Historical development: The verb "hurl" has been used since Middle English to mean throwing strongly; the sport "hurling" dates back over 3,000 years in Ireland
- •Modern usage: "Hurling" as a verb is used for strong throwing; as a noun, it refers to the Irish sport involving sticks and a ball
- •Interesting fact: Hurling is considered one of the fastest field sports in the world
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of "hurling" change when you think about throwing something in anger versus playing the sport?
•Can you think of situations where "hurling" something might be helpful or harmful? How does the force behind the action affect the result?
Fill in the blanks
1.When he was angry, he started hurling ___ at the wall with all his strength.
2.In hurling, players use a wooden stick called a ___ to hit the ball.
3.Hurling is different from regular throwing because it usually involves more ___ and speed.
4.The crowd was cheering loudly during the hurling ___ between the two teams.
5.She was hurling insults ___ the referee after the unfair decision.
6.Unlike a gentle toss, hurling something means using a lot of ___ to throw it.
7.After hurling the ball, the player ran quickly to ___ the next move.