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Added 9 October 2026

hurtle

/ˈhɜːtl̩/ verb

In Latin: iaculor, jaculor Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about hurtle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Move with or as if with a rushing sound.
The cars hurtled by
Make a thrusting forward movement.
Throw forcefully.

Origin

The verb is derived from Middle English hurtelen, hurtlen (“to cast, hurl, throw; to charge at; to clash in combat, fight; to collide; to injure; to knock down; to propel, push, thrust; to rush; to stumble”) [and other forms], from hurten (“to injure, wound, hurt (physically or figuratively); to damage, impair; to hurt one’s feelings, humiliate; to receive an injury; to collide into; to propel, push, thrust; to stumble”) (see further at English hurt (verb)) + -el-, -elen (frequentative suffix). The English word is analysable as hurt (“(obsolete) to knock; to strike”) + -le (frequentative suffix). The noun is derived from the verb.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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