Slung is the past tense of sling, which means to throw, hang, or carry something in a loose, casual way.

When you sling a backpack over your shoulder, you're not carefully placing it there: you're swinging it up in one quick motion. A cowboy in an old Western might have slung his rifle across his back, or a sailor might have slung a rope to someone on the dock. The word suggests a certain casualness or ease, like when you sling your jacket over a chair instead of hanging it properly in the closet.

Sling can also mean to hang something in a way that lets it swing freely. A hammock is slung between two trees. A mother in many parts of the world might carry her baby in a cloth sling (the noun form) wrapped around her body.

In another sense, people sling words or insults when they're arguing: “They slung accusations at each other all afternoon.” This use captures that same feeling of throwing something, but with language instead of objects.

The word carries a sense of motion and informality. Whether you've slung mud, slung a bag over your shoulder, or slung a witty comeback to a friend, there's always something relaxed and unrestrained about the action.