different between fling vs scoot

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fl??/
• Rhymes: -??

Etymology 1

From Middle English fling, from the verb (see below). Compare Icelandic flengur (“a fast sprint”).

Noun

fling (plural flings)

1. An act of throwing, often violently.
2. An act of moving the limbs or body with violent movements, especially in a dance.

3. An act or period of unrestrained indulgence.
   • 1838, Douglas William Jerrold, Men of Character

     When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure.
4. A short casual sexual relationship.

   Synonym: hookup

5. (figuratively) An attempt, a try (as in "give it a fling").
6. (obsolete) A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe or taunt.
   • c. 1732, Jonathan Swift, Epistle to a Lady

     I, who love to have a fling, / Both at senate house and king.

7. A lively Scottish country dance.

8. (obsolete) A trifling matter; an object of contempt.
   • ante 1800, old proverb

     England were but a fling / Save for the crooked stick and the grey goose wing.

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English flingen, flengen, from Old Norse flengja (“to whip”), from Proto-Germanic *flangijan? (“to beat, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh?k- (“to beat”). Cognate with Icelandic flengja (“to spank”), Norwegian flengja (“to rip, tear, or fling open”).

Verb

fling (third-person singular simple present flings, present participle flinging, simple past flung or (colloquial or dialectal, nonstandard) flang or (nonstandard) flinged, past participle flung or (nonstandard) flinged)

1. (intransitive, now archaic) To move (oneself) abruptly or violently; to rush or dash.
   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, Letter 113:

     I see, sir, said I, I see what a man I am with. […] And away I flung, leaving him seemingly vexed, and in confusion.

   • I flung closer to his breast, / As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath.

2. (transitive) To throw with violence or quick movement; to hurl.
   • I know thy generous temper well. / Fling but the appearance of dishonour on it, / It straight takes fire.
3. (intransitive, archaic) To throw; to wince; to flounce.
   • 1836, Helen Crocket, The Ettrick Shepherd's Last Tale

     The horse flung most potently, making his heels fly aloft in the air.

4. (intransitive, archaic) To utter abusive language; to sneer.

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sku?t/
• Rhymes: -u?t

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old Norse skjóta (“to shoot”), or perhaps related to Middle English scottlynge (“moving one's feet quickly, scampering”, literally “scuttling”), see scuddle, scuttle.

Noun

scoot (plural scoots)

1. (slang) A dollar.
2. (slang) a scooter.
3. A sideways shuffling or sliding motion.

Verb

scoot (third-person singular simple present scoots, present participle scooting, simple past and past participle scooted)

1. (Can we clean up⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (intransitive) To walk fast; to go quickly; to run away hastily.

   They scooted over to the window.

2. (intransitive) To ride on a scooter.
3. (of an animal) To move with the forelegs while sitting, so that the floor rubs against its rear end.

   The dog was scooting all over our new carpet.
4. (intransitive) To move sideways (especially along a seat for multiple people), usually to make room for someone else (to sit, stand, etc.).

   Do you mind scooting a bit to the left?

5. (transitive) To dispatch someone or something at speed.
   • 1930, Frank Richards, The Magnet, Prout's Lovely Black Eye

     He scooted us out of the study and turned off the light […]

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:scoot.

Derived terms

• scoot over

Translations

Etymology 2

Variant of shoot.

Verb

scoot (third-person singular simple present scoots, present participle scooting, simple past and past participle scooted)

1. (Scotland, transitive) To squirt.

Noun

scoot (plural scoots)

1. (Scotland) A sudden flow of water; a squirt.

Anagrams

• Cotos, Scoto-, coost, coots, costo-, cotso, scoto-, tocos