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

  1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; glossy;...

Ancestry of “sleek”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishslickSlippery or smooth due to a covering of liquid;...
2Middle Englishslicke—
3Old Englishslīcsleek, smooth; crafty, cunning, slick
4Proto-Germanicslīkazslick, smooth; sleek, smooth
5Proto-Indo-Europeansleyǵ-to glide, smooth, spread; to smear; to creep; to...

Words derived from “sleek”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sleyǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic slīkaz →Every word from Old English slīc →