Where does “sleight” come from?

Sleight comes from Middle English sleight, derived from Middle Dutch aenslach and slach, which trace back through Old Dutch slag to Proto-Indo-European slak-, meaning a blow or strike.

sleight (English): Cunning; craft; artful practice; An artful trick;...

Definitions

  1. Cunning; craft; artful practice; An artful trick;...

Ancestry of “sleight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsleighteAlternative form of sleight
2Old Norseslœgðtrick, sleight, slyness
3Proto-Germanicslōgiþō—
4Proto-Germanicslōgizable to strike; sly, cunning, clever
5Proto-Indo-Europeanslak-to hit; strike; to hit, strike, throw; to hit,...

Words derived from “sleight”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European slak- →Every word from Proto-Germanic slōgiz →Every word from Proto-Germanic slōgiþō →