The "sling" in gunslinger?

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Leszek L. - 20 Jul 2007 10:02 GMT

Hi,

I know a gunslinger is a Wild West character highly skilled in using
a gun (mostly a revolver), and using his skills for less than perfectly
legal purposes.

But I am curious what the "slinger" part of the word refers to.

Is it, perchance:

- carrying the gun in a holster dangling at the hip on a loose belt,
- waving the gun around, pointing it alternately at multiple targets,
- putting a finger through the trigguer guard and making the gun spin
around it, to show off one's perfect control of the weapon,
- something else?

Thanks for any enlightment,
L.

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John Ramsay - 21 Jul 2007 01:45 GMT

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>

sling = strap

The 1st gunslingers were riflemen because rifles came with straps/slings.

But a strap is also a waistbelt. So a pistolero can either strap/buckle
on/sling
his gun/s. Or even, as strap also means girdle, he can, in biblical terms,
'gird his loins for battle'.

Since sling also = throw, a short order cook is a hashslinger, possibly more
lethal than a gunslinger.

The puns are inevitable. A peaceable gunman can sling his guns over his
shoulder instead of around his waist.

An inept gunman can sling his revolver at the target, after all his bullets
have missed -:)

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no_spam@luckylingo.com - 22 Jul 2007 10:07 GMT

Gunslinger - means to carry a gun. Sling would be to throw but when we say
gunslinger we understand someone that carries a gun and is ready to use it
for any reason like a gunfighter.

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Leszek L. - 26 Jul 2007 10:01 GMT

Thanks for all the answers,
especially the etymology which was what I asked about.

Cheers,
L.

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / July 2007

The "sling" in gunslinger?