The "sling" in gunslinger?

Question

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.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I know a gunslinger is a Wild West character highly skilled in using a gun (mostly a revolver), and ... spin around it, to show off one's perfect control of the weapon, - something else? Thanks for any enlightment, L.[/nq]
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 -:)

Usenet · Answer

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.

Usenet · Answer

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

Cheers,
L.

The "sling" in gunslinger?

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