Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “smuggling” come from?

Smuggling derives from the English verb smuggle, which comes from Dutch smokkelen and Middle Dutch smuken, ultimately tracing back through Germanic roots with an uncertain original meaning.

smuggling (English): present participle of smuggle; An act of...

Definitions

  1. present participle of smuggle; An act of...

Ancestry of “smuggling”, 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

Words derived from “smuggling”

  • antismuggling
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smewg- →