Etymology Explorer › Middle Low German

Where does “smuk” come from?

smuk (Middle Low German) comes from Proto-West Germanic smeugan, from Proto-Germanic *smeuganą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)mewk-, from Proto-Indo-European smewg- — to slip, glide, slide; to slip, glide; be slimy.

smuk (Middle Low German): lithe, neat; lithe, delicate, neat, trim;...

Definitions

  1. lithe, neat; lithe, delicate, neat, trim;...

Ancestry of “smuk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanicsmeuganto creep, to crawl
2Proto-Germanic*smeuganą—
3Proto-Indo-European(s)mewk-to let loose, release; to slip away, escape, flee
4Proto-Indo-Europeansmewg-to slip, glide, slide; to slip, glide; be slimy

Words derived from “smuk”

  • smug
  • smugly
  • smugness
  • smuggery
  • unsmug
  • schmuck
  • smuk
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smewg- →