Where does “sleuth” come from?
Sleuth comes from Middle English sleuth, derived from Old English slēuth, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ḱwṓ meaning dog or hunting animal.
sleuth (English): A detective; A sleuth-hound; a bloodhound; An...
Definitions
- A detective; A sleuth-hound; a bloodhound; An...
Ancestry of “sleuth”, step by step
sleuth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sleuthhound
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sleuthhound | A working dog who tracks or pursues e.g. a wanted... |
| 2 | Middle English | sluth hunde | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | slóð | trail, track |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | slōdō | — |