Where does “glib” come from?

Glib comes from Irish glib, a word of unknown origin and meaning.

glib (English): Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought...

Definitions

  1. Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought...

Ancestry of “glib”, step by step

glib traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English glibbery

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishglibberySlippery; changeable; Moving easily; nimble;...
2Dutchglibberigslippery, slithery
3Low Germanglibberigslippery, smooth
4Middle Low Germanglibberich—

via Irish glib

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Irishglibforelock

Words derived from “glib”

Every word from Middle Low German glibberich →Every word from Low German glibberig →Every word from Dutch glibberig →