Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “slough” come from?

Slough derives from Old English slōh, which comes from Proto-Germanic slōhaz, a word of uncertain origin and meaning.

slough (English): The skin shed by a snake or other reptile; Dead...

Definitions

  1. The skin shed by a snake or other reptile; Dead...

Ancestry of “slough”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishslo—
2Old Swedishslā—
3Old Norsesláto hit, beat, strike; to strike, pluck
4Proto-Germanicslahanąto hit, to strike; to kill
5Proto-Indo-Europeanslak-to hit; strike; to hit, strike, throw; to hit,...

Words derived from “slough”

  • slog
  • sloughy
  • slogger
  • sluff
  • footslogger
  • footslog
  • sloughable
  • slogfest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European slak- →