Where does “sleek” come from?
Sleek comes from Middle English slek, from Old English slīcian meaning "to smooth or polish," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sleyg-.
sleek (English): Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; glossy;...
Definitions
- Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; glossy;...
Ancestry of “sleek”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | slick | Slippery or smooth due to a covering of liquid;... |
| 2 | Middle English | slicke | — |
| 3 | Old English | slīc | sleek, smooth; crafty, cunning, slick |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | slīkaz | slick, smooth; sleek, smooth |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sleyǵ- | to glide, smooth, spread; to smear; to creep; to... |
Words derived from “sleek”