Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “smugglesome” come from?

smugglesome (English) comes from English smuggle, from English smuckle, from Dutch smokkelen, from Middle Dutch *smugen, from Old English smugan, from Proto-West Germanic smeugan, from Proto-Germanic *smeuganą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)mewk- — to slip, glide, slide; to slip, glide; be slimy.

smugglesome (English): Characterised or marked by smuggling

Definitions

  1. Characterised or marked by smuggling

Ancestry of “smugglesome”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmuggleTo import or export, illicitly or by stealth,...
2Englishsmuckle—
3Dutchsmokkelento smuggle, to transport contraband; to cut...
4Middle Dutch*smugen—
5Old Englishsmuganto creep, crawl, move gradually
6Proto-West Germanicsmeuganto creep, to crawl
7Proto-Germanic*smeuganą—
8Proto-Indo-European(s)mewk-to let loose, release; to slip away, escape, flee
9Proto-Indo-Europeansmewg-to slip, glide, slide; to slip, glide; be slimy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smewg- →