Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - ling

1. suffix. 1 denoting a person or thing: a connected with (hireling; sapling). b having the property of being (weakling; underling) or undergoing (starveling). 2 denoting a diminutive (duckling), often derogatory (lordling). Etymology: OE (as -LE(1) + -ING(3)): sense 2 f. ON 2. suffix forming adverbs and adjectives (darkling; grovelling) (cf. -LONG). Etymology: OE f. Gmc LING 1. n. a long slender marine fish, Molva molva, of N. Europe, used as food. Etymology: ME leng(e), prob. f. MDu, rel. to LONG(1) 2. n. any of various heathers, esp. Calluna vulgaris. Derivatives lingy adj. Etymology: ME f. ON lyng