hurling

1 of 2

noun

hurl·​ing ˈhər-liŋ 

: an Irish game resembling field hockey played between two teams of 15 players each

hurling

2 of 2

present participle of hurl

Did you know?

An Irish game resembling both field hockey and lacrosse, hurling is played between two teams of 15 players. The game is mentioned in Irish manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. The stick used—a tapered, slightly curved device with a cupped blade at the end—is called a hurley. A point is scored by hitting the ball over the crossbar of the opposing team’s goalposts, three points by driving it under the crossbar. Hurling is considered the national pastime of Ireland.

Examples of hurling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Gaelic football, like its sister Irish sports of hurling and camogie, is completely amateur, with players competing for pride rather than pay. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Rugby, soccer, hurling and Gaelic football are the local sports. — Ken Maguire, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Few experiences match the buzz of a live Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) match, where locals cheer on their regional teams in football and hurling. — Louise Kavanagh, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025

In previous years, demonstrators against Islam were met with protests and the hurling of objects in a couple of cases, but there were none this time. — Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 20 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1780, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hurling

• burling
• curling
• pearling
• sperling
• sterling
• swirling
• twirling
• whirling
• yearling
• unfurling

Kids Definition

hurling

noun

: an Irish game resembling field hockey played between two teams of 15 players each