Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sleeking” come from?

sleeking (English) comes from English sleek, from English slick, from Middle English slicke, from Old English slīc, from Proto-Germanic slīkaz, from Proto-Indo-European sleyǵ- — to glide, smooth, spread; to smear; to creep; to...

sleeking (English): present participle of sleek; A process of making...

Definitions

  1. present participle of sleek; A process of making...

Ancestry of “sleeking”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsleekHaving an even, smooth surface; smooth; glossy;...
2EnglishslickSlippery or smooth due to a covering of liquid;...
3Middle Englishslicke—
4Old Englishslīcsleek, smooth; crafty, cunning, slick
5Proto-Germanicslīkazslick, smooth; sleek, smooth
6Proto-Indo-Europeansleyǵ-to glide, smooth, spread; to smear; to creep; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sleyǵ- →