-ling

From Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, from Proto-Germanic *-lingaz, a nominal suffix, probably composed of Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (agent/instrumental/diminutive suffix) + Proto-Germanic *-ingaz (patronymic suffix). Akin to Dutch -ling, German -ling, Icelandic -lingur, Gothic -𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (-liggs) (in 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐌹𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (gadiliggs)). More at -le, -ing.

• -lyng (obsolete)
• -lin (dialectal)

-ling

1. small, immature, miniature
2. follower or resident

Words ending in -ing derived from a root or stem terminating in -l or -le, such as dazzling, have usually only an accidental resemblance, although sometimes there is a connection, as in sidling, which derives from Middle English in this form, and which is also a present participle form of the modern English verb to sidle, which in itself is a back-formation from sidling.

From Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, -linga, -lunga (adverbial suffix). Compare -long.

• -lings
• -lin (dialectal)

-ling

1. An adverbial suffix denoting manner, direction or position.

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

• -en
• -le
• -ock

• lign-

From a rebracketing of nouns with an -ing suffix. See above (English).

-ling m

1. A suffix that describes a person (or other creature) in terms of a place of origin or a quality, as defined by the root to which it is added.

• -lings - adverbs
• -linge f
• onderling - adjective
• plotseling - adjective

From Old High German -ling, from Proto-Germanic *-ilingaz.

• IPA^(key): [lɪŋ]

-ling m (genitive -linges or -lings, plural -linge, feminine -lingin)

1. Indicates possession of or connection with a quality or property, such as Schwächling (“weakling”) from schwach (“weak”) or Frühling (“the season Spring [which comes early]”) from früh (“early”).
2. A modifier of nouns, meaning a follower or resident of what is denoted by the stem form, such as Häftling from Haft.

• IPA^(key): /liŋɡ/

From alteration of suffixal use of Old English lang (“long”)

-ling

1. adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or position

   hinderling (“backwards”)

From Proto-Germanic *-ilingaz

• -linc

-ling

1. suffix used in forming personal nouns

   dēorling "favorite, darling"

   rǣpling "prisoner, captive, criminal"

2. suffix forming diminutives

   stærlinc "starling"

3. dynasty, lineage

   Icling ("dynasty of Icel" or "House of Icel"); Ætheling (House of Ethel)

• Middle English: -ling
  • English: -ling, long (as in headlong)