Where does “slew” come from?

Slew comes from Middle Irish slúagh, from Old Irish slóg, from Proto-Indo-European slowgʰo-, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European slak-.

slew (English): The act, or process of slewing; A device used for...

Definitions

  1. The act, or process of slewing; A device used for...

Ancestry of “slew”, step by step

slew traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English slough

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsloughThe skin shed by a snake or other reptile; Dead...
2Middle Englishslosloe blackthorn fruit
3Old Swedishslāto hit, to strike
4Old Norsesláto hit, beat, strike; to strike, pluck
5Proto-Germanicslahanąto hit, to strike; to kill
6Proto-Indo-Europeanslak-to hit; strike; to hit, strike, throw; to hit,...

via Irish slua

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Irishsluahost, force, army; crowd, multitude, throng;...
2Old Irishslúag—
3Old Irishslógarmy, host; throng, crowd, company, assembly
4Proto-Celticslougostroop, army
5Proto-Indo-Europeanslowgʰo-—

via Middle English slew

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishslew—
2Middle EnglishsleenTo strike, beat, or hit
3Old Englishslēanto hit, strike, slay; to strike, beat, smite; to...
4Proto-West Germanicslahanto hit, to strike; to kill

Words derived from “slew”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European slak- →