fling
n. countablen. a short, casual romantic relationship that is not meant to be serious. You might have a fling during a summer holiday.
n. a brief, casual romantic or sexual relationship. Often implies a lack of long-term commitment or a temporary duration.
They had a brief summer fling before she moved away.
What started as a casual holiday fling eventually turned into a serious long-distance relationship.
The novel explores the emotional fallout of a reckless fling, contrasting the protagonist's desire for spontaneity with her underlying need for stability.
From Middle English fling, from the verb (see below). Compare Icelandic flengur (“a fast sprint”).
From Middle English flyngen, from Old Norse flengja (“to whip”), from Proto-Germanic flangijaną (“to beat, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European pleh₂k- (“to beat”), from Proto-Indo-European pleh₂k-, pleh₂g- (“to beat”). Cognate with Icelandic flengja (“to spank”), Norwegian flengja (“to rip, tear, or fling open”).
Commonly used with the verb 'to have' or 'to go on'.