arselong

arselong

English

Alternative forms

• arseling, arselings

Etymology

Alteration (after headlong) of arseling, from Middle English *arsling, from Old English earsling (“backwards, on the back”), equivalent to arse +‎ -ling. Cognate with Dutch aarzeling, aarzelings, German ärschling, ärschlings.

Adverb

arselong (not comparable)

1. (Britain dialectal) Backwards; on one's arse.
   • 1981, John Barth, Giles goat-boy:

     Heave they did, all unopposed, and tumbled arselong when the bar came about. Even as they rolled and cursed, the whistling petered; [...]

Anagrams

• Lagrones, Selangor, longears