: an Irish game resembling field hockey played between two teams of 15 players each
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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.
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Croke Park is best known for hosting sports like Gaelic football and hurling.
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Beren Cross, New York Times, 1 Apr. 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
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Beren Cross, New York Times, 1 Apr. 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
See All Example Sentences for hurling
Cite this Entry
“Hurling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurling. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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