Etymology dictionary
slander (v.) — slimming (adj.)
slander (v.)
late 13c., sclaundren, "defame, caluminate, accuse falsely and maliciously," from Anglo-French esclaundrer, Old French esclandrer, from Old French esclandre "scandalous statement" (see slander (n.)). Related: Slandered; slandering; slanderer. In early biblical translations also sometimes closer to the Latin literal sense, or with a notion of "stumbling block to faith, grace, etc."
Where KJV has "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea."
slang (n.)
1756, "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves" or any set of persons of low character, later "jargon of a particular profession" (1801). The sense of "very informal language characterized by vividness and novelty" is by 1818.
Anatoly Liberman writes here an extensive account of the established origin of the word from the Northern England noun slang "a narrow piece of land running up between other and larger divisions of ground" and the verb slanger "linger, go slowly," which is of Scandinavian origin (compare Norwegian slenge "hang loose, sling, sway, dangle," Danish slænge "to throw, sling"). "Their common denominator seems to be 'to move freely in any direction' " [Liberman]. Noun derivatives of these (Danish slænget, Norwegian slenget) mean "a gang, a band," and Liberman compares Old Norse slangi "tramp" and slangr "going astray" (used of sheep). He writes:
So the sense evolution would be from slang "a piece of delimited territory" to "the territory used by tramps for their wandering," to "their camping ground," and finally to "the language used there." The sense shift then passes through itinerant merchants:
Liberman concludes:
The association of the word with thieves and low life faded in the 19c.
slang (v.)
1828, "use vulgar language;" 1844, "abuse verbally," from slang (n.). Related: Slanged; slanging.
slangy (adj.)
1822, of persons, "given to the use of slang;" by 1842 of language or words, from slang (n.) + -y (2). Related: Slangily; slanginess. Slangular (1852, Dickens) also was tried, as was slangish (1813).
slangwhanger (n.)
also slang-whanger, 1807, American English colloquial, "scurrilous, noisy, or railing persons" (used by Washington Irving of newspaper editors), a varied reduplication involving slang (n.). Related: slangwhang (v.), by 1809.
slant (v.)
1520s, "to strike obliquely" (against something), alteration of slenten "slip sideways" (c. 1300), perhaps via a Scandinavian source (compare Swedish slinta "to slip," Norwegian slenta "to fall on one side"), from Proto-Germanic *slintanan.
The intransitive sense of "to slope, to lie obliquely" is recorded by 1690s; transitive sense of "to give a sloping direction to" is from 1805. Related: Slanted; slanting. As an adverb from late 15c.; as an adjective from 1610s. Poetic slant rhyme "assonance or consonance" is attested by 1926.
slant (n.)
1650s, "an oblique direction or plane" (originally of landforms), from slant (v.) or its adjective. The meaning "way of regarding something, a mental bias" is from 1905. Derogatory slang sense of "slant-eyed Asian person" is recorded from 1943, from earlier slant-eyes (1929).
slantways (adv.)
"slantingly, in a sloping direction," 1826, from slant (n.) + way (n.) + adverbial genitive -s. Slantwise is attested from 1570s (see wise (n.)). Slantly (1727) is perhaps only in poems and dictionaries.
slap (v.)
late 15c., slappen, "strike or smack with the open hand," from slap (n.). By 1836 as "to put into place." As an adverb, 1670s, "suddenly;" 1829, "directly." Related: Slapped; slapping.
slap (n.)
mid-15c., "a smart blow," especially with the open hand or something flat, probably of imitative origin, similar to Low German slappe, German Schlappe.
The figurative meaning "an insult, a reprimand" is attested from 1736. Slap-happy (1936) originally meant "punch-drunk." Slap on the wrist "very mild corrective punishment" is by 1900; slap in the face figuratively for "an insult" is by 1807. Colloquial slap and tickle "light amorous play" is by 1915.
slapdash (adv.)
also slap-dash, 1670s, "in a hasty, abrupt manner, with or as with a slap and a dash," from slap (v.) + dash (v.). As an adjective, "dashing, offhand, careless," from 1792. As a noun, "rough-coat, coarse plaster," applied as a preservative to exterior walls, from 1796.
slapper (n.)
"large or impressive person or thing," attested by 1781 in glossaries of Northern dialect, agent noun from slap (v.). Compare whopper. By 1886 as "implement for slapping."
slapshot (n.)
also slap-shot, in ice hockey, a shot made with a slapping motion of the stick, 1942, from slap (v.) + shot (n.).
slapstick (n.)
also slap-stick, originally (1896) a device consisting of two sticks fastened together so as to slap loudly when a clown or actor hits somebody with it, or else used to make a sound-effect offstage; from slap and stick (n.).
As an adjective by 1906. The meaning "farcical physical comedy, horseplay" (1916) is short for slapstick comedy or humor.
slash (v.)
1540s, intransitive, "to make cuts or cutting motions with a stroke of a blade or whip;" 1580s, transitive, "cut with long incisions;" perhaps from French esclachier "to break," variant of esclater "to break, splinter" (see slat).
Attested from 1650s as "to strike violently or at random." The meaning "to clear land" (of trees) is from 1821, American English. In reference to prices, "reduce severely," it is attested by 1876 in U.S. newspaper advertisements. Related: Slashed; slashing. Slash and burn for a method of clearing forest for cultivation is by 1887.
slash (n.)
"a sweeping or cutting stroke with an edged weapon," 1570s, from slash (v.). The sense of "slit cut into the stuff of a garment," to show a different material beneath, is from 1610s. As a punctuation mark in writing or printing, it is recorded from 1961.
The meaning "open tract in a forest" is attested by 1825, American English, from being cut clear of trees. The slash that means "swampy ground, wet bottom land" (1650s) is said to be a different word, of obscure origin.
slasher (n.)
1550s, "a bully, a fighter;" 1815, "weapon for slashing," agent noun from slash (v.). As "violent movie" by 1971, originally of martial arts films with prominent swordplay (Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman and The Twelve Golden Medallions being the films under discussion).
slat (n.)
late 14c., earlier sclat (c. 1300), "a roofing slate; a thin, flat stone," from Old French esclat "split piece, chip, splinter" (Modern French éclat), a back-formation from esclater "to break, splinter, burst," which probably is from Frankish *slaitan "to tear, slit" or some other Germanic source (compare Old High German slizan, Old English slitan; see slit (v.)). The meaning was extended to "long, thin, narrow piece of wood or metal" by 1764.
slate (n.)
mid-14c. (c. 1300 in Anglo-Latin), sclate, "tile or slate used principally in roofing," from Old French esclate, fem. of esclat "split piece, splinter" (Modern French éclat; see slat). So called because the rock splits easily into thin plates.
As an adjective, 1510s. As a color, by 1813 (slate-gray is from 1791 in dyeing, later in bird descriptions; slate-colour is from 1743, slate-blue from 1792).
The sense of "a writing tablet" (made of slate), is recorded by late 14c. and led to that of "list of preliminary candidates prepared by party managers," attested from 1842, from notion of being chalked on a slate and thus easily altered or erased. Clean slate "fresh beginning of a state of affairs" (1856) is an image from customer accounts chalked up in a tavern.
slate (v.)
1520s, "to cover with slates," from slate (n.). The earlier form was sclatten (late 15c.), and compare slater. The meaning "propose, schedule" is from 1883; earlier "to nominate" (1804); the notion is of writing on a slate board. Related: Slated; slating.
slater (n.)
"one who makes or lays slates, a roofer," c. 1400, sclater (mid-13c. as a surname), agent noun from slate.
slather (v.)
"spread liberally," 1847, a word of uncertain origin. Early 19c. local glossaries from western England have the word with a sense "to slip or slide" (1809).
Sometimes said to be from a dialectal noun meaning "large amount" (usually as plural, slathers), of obscure origin, but this is first attested 1855. Related: Slathered; slathering.
slaty (adj.)
1520s, "resembling or having the nature of slate," from slate (n.) + -y (2). By 1824 in reference to a taste of some wines.
slattern (n.)
1630s, "a woman negligent or disordered in her dress or household," a word of uncertain origin, probably related to Low German Slattje, Dutch slodder, dialectal Swedish slata "slut" (in the older, non-sexual sense; compare slut). Also compare dialectal English verb slatter "to spill or splash awkwardly, to waste," used of women or girls considered untidy or slovenly. With intrusive -n, perhaps as in bittern.
slatternly (adj.)
"slovenly, having the habits of a slattern," 1670s, from slattern + -ly (1). Related: Slatternliness.
slaught (n.)
"killing, manslaughter, carnage; butchery of animals," now obsolete (OED's last entry is c 1610), the native cognate of slaughter (q.v.). From Old English sliht, sleht, slieht "stroke, slaughter, murder, death; animals for slaughter;" as in sliehtswyn "pig for killing." Cognate with Old Saxon slahta, Old Frisian slaehte, Old High German slahta, German Schlacht "battle."
slaughter (v.)
1530s, "butcher an animal for market," from slaughter (n.). Meaning "slay wantonly, ruthlessly, or in great numbers" is from 1580s. Related: Slaughtered; slaughtering.
slaughter (n.)
c. 1300, "the killing of a person, murder; the killing of large numbers of persons in battle;" mid-14c., "the killing of cattle or sheep or other animals for food;" from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse slatr "a butchering, butcher meat," slatra "to slaughter," slattr "a mowing," related to Old Norse sla "to strike," from Proto-Germanic *slagan- (see slay (v.)).
The form was perhaps influenced by obsolete slaught "killing, manslaughter, carnage; butchery of animals," the native cognate, which is from Old English sliht, sleht, slieht "stroke, slaughter, murder, death; animals for slaughter;" as in sliehtswyn "pig for killing." The Elizabethans had an adjective slaughterous.
slaughterhouse (n.)
also slaughter-house, late 14c., "place or building where animals are butchered for meat," from slaughter (n.) + house (n.). Transferred by 1540s to scenes of human butchery. The 14th Amendment Slaughter-house cases in U.S. history were in 1873.
Slav (n.)
"one of the people who inhabit most of Eastern Europe," late 14c., Sclave, from Medieval Latin Sclavus (c. 800), from Byzantine Greek Sklabos (c. 580), from a shortening of Proto-Slavic *sloveninu "a Slav," which is probably related to *slovo "word, speech," which suggests the name originally identified a member of a speech community (compare Old Church Slavonic Nemici "Germans," related to nemu "dumb;" Greek heterophonos "foreign," literally "of different voice;" and Old English þeode, which meant both "race" and "language").
Max Vasmer, the authority for Slavic etymologies, rejects a connection to *slava "glory, fame," which, however, influenced Slav via folk etymology. This word is the -slav in personal names (such as Russian Miroslav, literally "peaceful fame;" Mstislav "vengeful fame;" Jaroslav "famed for fury;" Czech Bohuslav "God's glory;" Latinized Wenceslas "having greater glory"), and is perhaps from PIE root *kleu- "to hear."
The reduction of scl- to sl- is regular in English (compare slate). In late 18c. and early 19c. The spelling Slav is by 1866; in English it also was spelled Slave, influenced by French and German Slave. As an adjective, belonging to or characteristics of Slavs, from 1872.
slave (v.)
1550s, "to enslave," from slave (n.). The meaning "work like a slave" is attested by 1719. Related: Slaved; slaving.
slave (n.)
c. 1300, sclave, esclave, "person who is the chattel or property of another," from Old French esclave (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin Sclavus "slave" (source also of Italian schiavo, French esclave, Spanish esclavo), originally "Slav" (see Slav); so used in this secondary sense because of the many Slavs sold into slavery by conquering peoples.
The meaning "one who has lost the power of resistance to some habit or vice" is from 1550s. Applied to devices from 1904, especially those which are controlled by others (compare slave jib in sailing, similarly of locomotives, flash bulbs, amplifiers). In U.S. history, slave state, one in which domestic slavery prevails, is from 1812.
Old English Wealh "Briton" also began to be used in the sense of "serf, slave" c. 850; and Sanskrit dasa-, which can mean "slave," apparently is connected to dasyu- "pre-Aryan inhabitant of India." Grose's dictionary (1785) has under Negroe "A black-a-moor; figuratively used for a slave," without regard to race. More common Old English words for slave were þeow (related to þeowian "to serve") and þræl (see thrall). The Slavic words for "slave" (Russian rab, Serbo-Croatian rob, Old Church Slavonic rabu) are from Old Slavic *orbu, from the PIE root *orbh- (also source of orphan (n.)), the ground sense of which seems to be "thing that changes allegiance" (in the case of the slave, from self to master). The Slavic word is also the source of robot.
The reduction of scl- to sl- is normal in English (compare slate, also Dutch slaaf, Danish slave, but German Sklave).
Slave
native tribe of northwestern Canada, 1789, from slave (n.), said to translate Cree (Algonquian) awahkan "captive, slave."
slave-driver (n.)
"overseer of slaves at their work," 1807, from slave (n.) + driver. The extended sense of "cruel or exacting task-master" is by 1854.
slaveholder (n.)
also slave-holder, "one who owns a slave or slaves," by 1776, from slave (n.) + holder. Related: Slave-holding.
slaver (n.)
"ship in the slave trade," 1830, agent noun from slave (v.), perhaps from earlier slave-ship (1792). The meaning "person in the slave trade" is from 1842.
slaver (v.)
"to drool, slobber, dribble from the mouth," early 14c., slaveren, from Old Norse slafra "to slaver," probably imitative (compare slobber (v.)). Related: Slavered; slavering. The noun is from early 14c., "saliva."
slavery (n.)
1550s, "severe toil, hard work, drudgery;" from slave (v.) + -ery. The meaning "state of servitude, condition of a slave, entire subjection to the will and commands of another" is from 1570s; the sense of "the keeping or holding of slaves" is from 1728.
slave-trade (n.)
"the business of procuring human beings and taking them to a distant country to sell as slaves," 1734, from slave (n.) + trade (n.).
Slavic (adj.)
"of or pertaining to the Slavs, their language, literature, etc.," by 1778, earlier Sclavic (1761); see Slav + -ic. Earlier in the same sense was Slavonic (1640s). Slavian is attested by 1742. As a noun, in reference to the Slavic languages collectively, one of the primary groups of the Indo-European family, Slavic is used by 1812.
slavish (adj.)
"of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a slave," 1560s, from slave (n.) + -ish. The sense of "servilely imitative, lacking originality or independence" is from 1753. Related: Slavishly; slavishness.
slavocracy (n.)
also slaveocracy, "slave-owners collectively," in U.S. history especially, "the political dominance of slave-owners and their interests," especially as regarded the maintenance of slavery, 1840, formed irregularly from slave (n.) + -cracy "rule or government by." Related: Slavocrat.
Slavonic (adj.)
1640s, Sclavonic, "of or pertaining to the Slavs," from Medieval Latin Sclavonicus, from Slavonia, a northern region of Croatia, ultimately from Slav. In reference to the Slavic languages by 1660s. Earlier was Slavonian (1570s); Slavonish (1550s).
slaw (n.)
"sliced cabbage served as a salad," 1794, from Dutch sla, short for salade, from French salade (see salad).
slayer (n.)
late 14c., sleer, "killer, murderer," agent noun from slay (v.); also see -er (1). The Old English agent noun was slaga "slayer, killer." German cognate Schläger is "a beater, a mallet."
sleave (v.)
"to separate or divide" (threads, strands, fibers), 1620s, ultimately from Old English -slæfan, from stem of -slifan "to separate, split, cleave," from Proto-Germanic *slifanan, which is perhaps related to the root of slip (v.). Compare German Schleife "a loop, knot, noose." Related: Sleaved; sleaving.
As a noun, "knotted, tangled silk or thread, anything matted or raveled," 1590s, from the verb; this is the word in Shakespeare's rauel'd Sleeue of Care ("Macbeth").
sleaze (n.)
"sordidness, condition of squalor," by 1967, back-formation from sleazy. The meaning "person of low moral standards," and the adjectival use, are attested by 1976.
sleazy (adj.)
1640s, of textile fabric, "downy, fuzzy," later "flimsy, unsubstantial" (1660s), a word of unknown origin. One theory is that it is a corruption of Silesia, the German region, where thin linen or cotton fabric was made for export. Silesia, in reference to cloth, is attested in English from 1670s; and sleasie, sleazy as an abbreviated form is attested from late 17c., but OED finds the evidence to be against "any original connexion." The sense of "sordid, squalid" is from 1941. Related: Sleazily; sleaziness.
sled (n.)
early 14c., sledde, "a dragged vehicle used for transport of heavy goods over hard ground or ice," from Middle Dutch sledde "sled," from Proto-Germanic *slid- (source also of Old Saxon slido, Old Norse sleði, Danish slæde, Swedish släde, Old High German slito, German Schlitten "sledge"), from the same root as Old English slidan (see slide (v.)). Not found in Old English.
In reference to a sleigh used for travel or recreation, it is attested from 1580s, now mainly American English. In reference to a pair of runners connected by a framework with a light platform or seat, used for pleasure coasting, by 1873.
sled (v.)
1718, "transport on a sled" (transitive); 1780, "ride on a sled" (intransitive), from sled (n.). Related: Sledded; sledder; sledding.
sledge (n.2)
"carriage without wheels, commonly on runners, used in icy and snowy countries," 1610s, from dialectal Dutch sleedse, variant of slede (see sled (n.)); said by OED to be perhaps of Frisian origin. Century Dictionary (1895) reports it not used in U.S. in this sense.
sledge (n.1)
"heavy hammer," formerly the largest hammer used in forges or by smiths, typically requiring two hands to wield, Middle English slegge, from Old English slecg "hammer, mallet," from Proto-Germanic *slagjo- (source also of Old Norse sleggja, Middle Swedish sleggia "sledgehammer;" German Schlage "tool for striking"), which is related to slege "beating, blow, stroke" and slean "to strike" (see slay (v.)). Sledgehammer is pleonastic.
sledgehammer (n.)
"large hammer," formerly used chiefly by blacksmiths, late 15c., from sledge (n.1) + hammer (n.). As a verb, from 1834. Old English had slegebytel "hammer," with beetle (n.2).
sleek (adj.)
"smooth, glossy, soft" (of body parts, hair, skin, etc.), by 1580s, a variant of Middle English slike "sleek, smooth" (see slick (adj.)). Originally of healthy-looking animal hair (Shakespeare, of Bottom with his ass's head); applied to persons 1630s, with a sense of "plump and smooth-skinned." The figurative meaning in reference to persons or personalities, "slick, fawning, flattering," is from 1590s.
sleek (v.)
"make smooth and glossy on the surface," mid-15c., sleken, a variant of slick (v.), glossing Latin licibricinnulo; also see sleek (adj.). Related: Sleeked; sleeking. Alternative sleeken is by 1620s.
sleep (v.)
Middle English slepen, from Old English slæpan "to be or fall asleep; lie or remain dormant or inactive" (class VII strong verb; past tense slep, past participle slæpen), from Proto-Germanic *slēpanan (source also of Old Saxon slapan, Old Frisian slepa, Middle Dutch slapen, Dutch slapen, Old High German slafen, German schlafen, Gothic slepan "to sleep"), from PIE *sleb- "to be weak, sleep," which perhaps is connected to root *sleg- "be slack, be languid," the source of slack (adj.). Sleep with "do the sex act with" is in Old English:
Related: Slept; sleeping. There is no cognate form of the verb in Scandinavian. The usual PIE root is *swep-. The meaning "to rest as in the grave" is from Old English. In reference to parts of the body, "be numb through stoppage of circulation," late Old English. The sense of "provide or afford sleeping accommodations for" is by 1848, American English.
To sleep in "remain in bed in the morning" is by 1827; to sleep out "spend the night in the open" is by 1852. To sleep (something) off "remove the effects of by sleeping" is from 1760 (sleep out in the same sense is from 1550s). To sleep on some matter "postpone decision until the following day" is from 1510s, perhaps suggesting guidance in a dream. To sleep around "have casual sex with multiple partners" is attested by 1928.
sleep (n.)
Middle English slep, from Old English slæp "state of quiescence of voluntary and conscious functions; sleepiness, inactivity," from Proto-Germanic *slepaz, from the root of sleep (v.). Compare cognate Old Saxon slap, Old Frisian slep, Middle Dutch slæp, Dutch slaap, Old High German slaf, German Schlaf, Gothic sleps.
By c. 1200 as "a period of sleep." Personified in English from late 14c., on the model of Latin Somnus, Greek Hypnos. Figurative use for "repose of death" was in Old English; euphemistic put (a pet animal) to sleep "kill painlessly" is recorded from 1884 (put to sleep forever). A similar imagery is in cemetery.
Sleep deprivation is attested from 1906. Sleep-walker "somnambulist" is attested from 1747; first record of sleep-walking is from 1797. Sleep apnea is by 1976. To be able to do something in (one's) sleep "easily" is recorded as a hyperbolic phrase by 1953. Sleep apnea is by 1916.
sleeping (adj.)
c. 1300, present-participle adjective from sleep (v.). Sleeping Beauty (1729) is Perrault's La belle au bois dormant. Sleeping has been used since late 14c. to indicate diseases marked by morbid conditions.
sleeping (n.)
"fact, state, or condition of sleeping or being asleep," c. 1300, verbal noun from sleep (v.). Sleeping-pill is attested from 1660s (sleeping-drink from 1560s; sleeping powder by 1709); sleeping-bag, of skin or fur, used by explorers in frozen regions, is from 1850; sleeping sickness as a specific African tropical disease is recorded by 1875 (earlier sleepy sickness, 1803).
sleeper (n.)
Middle English slepere, from Old English slæpere "one who sleeps, one who is inclined to sleep soundly or much," agent noun from sleep (v.).
The meaning "dormant or inoperative thing" is from 1620s. The meaning "railway car fitted with berths in which beds can be made" is by 1875 (probably short for sleeper car, which is attested by 1839).
The sense of "something whose importance proves to be greater than expected" is attested by 1892, originally in American English sports jargon, probably from earlier (1856) gambling slang sense of "unexpected winning card." The meaning "spy, enemy agent, terrorist etc. who remains undercover for a long time before attempting his purpose" is attested by 1955 in reference to communist agents in the West.
The meaning "strong horizontal beam" is from c. 1600, but some suggest this might be a different word.
sleepy (adj.)
c. 1300, slepi, "lethargic, weary, overcome with sleep, tending to fall asleep," from sleep (n.) + -y (2). Perhaps from an unrecorded Old English slæpig. Old English did have slæpor, slæpwerig in the sense "sleepy;" slæpnes "sleepiness." Similar formation in Old High German slafag.
It is attested from late 14c. as "inducing sleep." Of places, "quiet, unexciting" from 1813 (Irving's Sleepy Hollow is from 1820). Sleepy-head "idle, lazy person" is from 1570s. Related: Sleepily; sleepiness. Sleepish "somewhat sleepy" is attested from 1520s.
sleepless (adj.)
early 15c., sleples, "deprived of sleep, being without sleep," from sleep (n.) + -less. Old English had slæpleas but the modern word seems to be a re-formation. Similar formation in German schlaflos, Dutch slapeloos. By 1792 as "continually active, unceasing;" by 1827 as "marked by absence or want of sleep." Related: Sleeplessly; sleeplessness. Sleepfiul "restful, marked by sleep" is by 1783.
sleep-over (n.)
"a spending of a night in a place other than one's residence," 1935, from the verbal phrase; see sleep (v.) + over (adv.). Earlier the verbal phrase meant "sleep late, oversleep" (1827).
sleet (v.)
early 14c., sleten, "to rain and snow at the same time," from sleet (n.). Related: Sleeted; sleeting.
sleet (n.)
c. 1300, slete, "precipitation of mingled snow and rain," probably from an unrecorded Old English *slete, *slyte, which is perhaps related to Middle High German sloz, Middle Low German sloten (plural) "hail," from Proto-Germanic *slautjan- (source also of dialectal Norwegian slutr, Danish slud, Swedish sloud "sleet"), which is of uncertain etymology. In U.S. especially fine pellets of snow mingled with rain, usually wind-driven.
sleety (adj.)
"consisting of or accompanied by sleet," 1725, from sleet (n.) + -y (2).
sleeve (n.)
Middle English sleve, from Old English sliefe (West Saxon), slefe (Mercian) "arm-covering part of a garment," probably literally "that into which the arm slips," from Proto-Germanic *slaubjon (source also of Middle Low German sloven "to dress carelessly," Old High German sloufen "to put on or off"), from PIE root *sleubh- "to slide, slip."
It is related etymologically to Old English slefan, sliefan "to slip on (clothes)" and slupan "to slip, glide." Also for the sense, compare slipper, Old English slefescoh "slipper," slip (n.2) "woman's garment," and expression slip into "dress in."
The mechanical sense of "tube in which a rod or another tube is inserted" is by 1864. The meaning "the English Channel" translates French La Manche, literally "the sleeve" (from Old French manche "a sleeve," also "a handle," from Latin manicae "long sleeves of a tunic;" see manacle (n.)).
The figurative expression have something up (or in) one's sleeve, "have ready as occasion demands," is recorded from c. 1500 (the long, pendant sleeves of the late Middle Ages also sometimes doubled as pockets); to have a card (or ace) up one's sleeve in the figurative sense of "have a hidden resource" is from 1863; the cheat itself is mentioned by 1840s. To wear one's heart on (one's) sleeve is from "Othello" (1604). For laugh in one's sleeve see laugh (v.).
sleeveless (adj.)
of a garment, "having no sleeves," Middle English sleveles, from Old English sliefleas, slyflease; see sleeve (n.) + -less. Also "imperfect, inadequate, fruitless" (late 14c.) and common in Elizabethan texts as "paltry, petty," but the exact image is unclear now.
*sleg-
*slēg-, also *lēg-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "be slack, be languid."
It forms all or part of: algolagnia; catalectic; laches; languid; languish; lax; lease; lessor; lush; relax; release; relish; slack (adj.); sleep.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek legein "to leave off, stop," lagnein "to lust;" Latin languere "to be faint, weary," laxus "wide, spacious, roomy;" Old Church Slavonic slabu "lax, weak;" Lithuanian silpnas "weak."
sleigh (n.)
"vehicle mounted on runners for transporting or traveling on ice and snow," 1703, American and Canadian English, from Dutch slee, shortened from slede (see sled (n.)). As a verb from 1728. Related: Sleighing.
Sleigh-ride "a ride in a sleigh" is recorded by 1770; sleigh-bell is by 1796; typically attached to the harness of a horse, they gave warning of the approach of a sleigh.
sleight (n.)
an early 14c. alteration of sleahthe "wisdom, prudence," also "cleverness, cunning" (c. 1200), from Old Norse sloegð "cleverness, cunning, slyness," from sloegr (see sly). The meaning "feat or trick requiring quickness and nimbleness of the hands" is from 1590s. Term sleight of hand for the tricks of a juggler is attested from c. 1400. Related: Sleighty.
slenderize (v.)
also slenderise, "make or attempt to make oneself more slim," 1921, from slender + -ize. Related: Slenderized; slenderizing. As a verb, slender "make narrower" is from 1550s, and compare banting.
slender (adj.)
c. 1400, "thin, lean, not fat or fleshy," earlier sclendre (late 14c.), Anglo-French esclendre, from Old French esclendre "thin, slender," which could be from Old Dutch slinder, but according to OED the connection is doubtful.
From 1510s of things, "small in width or diameter as compared to length." By 1520s as "weak, feeble, slight, insignificant, trifling." Related: Slenderly; slenderness.
slept
past tense and past participle of sleep (v.).
*sleubh-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to slide, slip."
It forms all or part of: cowslip; lubric; lubricant; lubricate; lubricity; lubricous; sleeve; slip (n.3) "potter's clay;" sloop; slop (n.1) "semiliquid refuse;" slop (n.2) "loose outer garment;" sloven.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Latin lubricus "slippery, slimy, smooth," lubricare "make slippery or smooth;" Middle Dutch slupen "to glide;" Gothic sliupan "to creep, slide;" Old English slyppe "dung."
sleuth (n.)
late 12c., sloth, "track or trail of a person or beast," from Old Norse sloð "trail or track," as of a person in snow, a word of uncertain origin.
The meaning "detective" is attested by 1872, a shortening of sleuth-hound "keen investigator" (1849), a figurative use of that word, which is attested from late 14c. as "a bloodhound."
The verb (intransitive) meaning "to act as a detective, investigate" is recorded from 1900 (implied in sleuthing). Related: Sleuthed.
slew (n.1)
"swampy place," 1708, North American variant of slough.
slew (n.2)
"large number," 1839, American English, according to OED (1989) from Irish sluagh "a host, crowd, multitude," from Celtic and Balto-Slavic *sloug- "help, service" (see slogan).
slew (v.)
"to turn, swing, twist," 1834, earlier slue (1769), a nautical word, of unknown origin. The specific sea sense seems to be "turn (something) on its axis or without shifting it." Slewed (1801) is old nautical slang for "drunk." Slew-foot "clumsy person who walks with feet turned out" is from 1896.
slice (n.1)
c. 1300, sclice, "a splinter, a fragment," from Old French escliz "splinter, broken piece of wood" (Anglo-French sclice, Modern French éclisse), a back-formation from esclicier "to splinter, shatter, smash," from Frankish *slitan "to split" or some other Germanic source (compare Old High German slihhan; see slit (v.)).
The meaning "thin, broad piece cut from something" emerged early 15c., with thereafter many technical applications to specific thin, broad things. Slice of life (1895) translates French tranche de la vie, a term from French Naturalist literature.
slice (v.)
"cut in relatively broad, thin pieces; cut into or through with a sharp instrument," late 15c., sclicen, from Old French esclicier, from escliz "splinter, fragment" (see slice (n.1)). The original reference is to beef. The sense in golfing, etc. is by 1890, "draw the face of the club across (the ball) in the act of hitting it," so called for the motion. Related: Sliced; slicing.
Sliced bread, of a loaf pre-cut into slices, is attested from 1929 and was touted in advertisements; with the phrase greatest thing since ... it is attested by 1969.
slice (n.2)
1610s, "a sharp cut," from slice (v.). As "a slicing stroke" (in golf or tennis) it is recorded from 1886.
slicer (n.)
"one who or that which slices," 1520s, agent noun from slice (v.). Slice (n.1) for "flat, cutting instrument" is attested from late 15c.
slick (v.)
Middle English sliken "to smooth, polish," from Old English -slician (in nigslicod "newly made sleek"), from Proto-Germanic *slikojan, from *slikaz "sleek, smooth" (source also of Old Norse slikr "smooth," Old High German slihhan "to glide," German schleichen "to creep, crawl, sneak," Dutch slijk "mud, mire"). This is reconstructed to be from PIE *sleig- "to smooth, glide, be muddy, spread," from root *(s)lei- "slimy" (see slime (n.)). Related: Slicked; slicking.
slick (n.)
1620s, a kind of cosmetic (original citation describes it as "painting stuffe of the Levant"), from slick (v.). The meaning "smooth place on the surface of water caused by oil, etc." is attested from 1849. The meaning "a swindler, clever person" is attested from 1959. As "glossy magazine," by 1934.
slick (adj.)
mid-14c., slike, "smooth, glossy, sleek" (of skin or hair), probably from an unrecorded Old English word related to slick (v.). The sense of "smooth, plausible" is recorded from 1590s, deteriorating by 1807 into "clever in deception." That of "first-class, excellent" is from 1833. Related: Slickly; slickness.
slicker (n.)
1851, "tool for smoothing leather," agent noun from slick (v.). Meaning "waterproof raincoat" is from 1884; sense of "clever and crafty person" is from 1900 (also see city). Slick-stone "polishing stone" is from early 14c.
slid
past tense and past participle of slide (v.). An alternative past participle is slidden.
slidder (v.)
"to slide, slip," from Old English asliderian, from slider "slippery," from the source of slide (v.); also compare slither. Related: Sliddery.
slide (n.)
1560s, "act, fact, or manner of sliding," from slide (v.). As a smooth inclined surface down which something can be slid, from 1680s.
The playground slide is by 1900, short for sliding board (1899). The meaning "collapse of a hillside, landslide" is attested from 1660s. As a working part of a musical instrument from 1800 (as in slide-trombone, 1891, as opposed to one with keys). The meaning "rapid downturn" is from 1884.
The meaning "picture prepared for use with a projector" is from 1819 (in reference to magic lanterns); earlier it was called a slider (1793). Slide-show is attested by 1949. The base-running sense in baseball is attested by 1886. Slide-guitar is from 1968; the effect is attained by sliding an object (beer bottle neck, etc.) along the strings.
slide (v.)
Middle English sliden, "glide, move smoothly and easily over a surface," also "to fall, lose one's balance through slipping," from Old English slidan (intransitive, past tense slad, past participle sliden) "to glide, slip, fall, fall down;" figuratively "fail, lapse morally, err; be transitory or unstable," from Proto-Germanic *slidanan "to slip, slide" (source also of Old High German slito, German Schlitten "sleigh, sled"), from PIE root *sleidh- forming words for "to slide, slip; slippery" (source also of Lithuanian slysti "to glide, slide," Old Church Slavonic sledu "track," Greek olisthos "slipperiness," olisthanein "to slip," Middle Irish sloet "slide").
The meaning "lose one's balance through slipping, lose one's footing" is attested from early 13c. (for distinction from slip, see below). The transitive sense of "cause to glide or move along a surface" is from 1530s. The meaning "pass gradually from one state or condition to another" is from late 14c. Related: Slid; slidden; sliding.
The phrase let (something) slide "let it take its own course, take no consideration of" is in Chaucer (late 14c.) and Shakespeare. Sliding scale in reference to payments, etc., varying under certain conditions is from 1842.
slider (n.)
1520s, "one who or that which slides" (in the first attested use, "skater"), agent noun from slide (v.). As a type of terrapin, from 1877; as a type of baseball pitch that seems to drop unexpectedly, 1936.
As "ice cream served as a sandwich between two wafers," by 1915. "Anyone who has felt the ice-cream slipping out of control as it melts will appreciate the name," Ayto writes. It was extended in U.S. to mini-hamburgers-and-buns by 2009: "The concept, of a filling held precariously between two outer layers, is essentially the same" [Ayto].
slide-rule (n.)
also slide rule, mathematical calculating tool consisting of two parts, one of which slides along the other, 1660s, from slide (v.) + rule (n.). So called for its method of operation. In early use commonly sliding-rule. Also sometimes sliding-scale (1706), but this has another sense.
slight (adj.)
early 14c., "flat, smooth, sleek; hairless," originally northern according to OED and probably from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse slettr "smooth, sleek," from Proto-Germanic *slikhtaz "slippery; flat, level, plain" (source also of Old Saxon slicht; Old Frisian sliucht, Low German slicht "smooth, plain common;" Old English -sliht "level," attested in eorðslihtes "level with the ground;" Old Frisian sliucht "smooth, slight," Middle Dutch sleht "even, plain," Old High German sleht, Gothic slaihts "smooth"), probably from a collateral form of PIE *sleig- "to smooth, glide, be muddy," from root *(s)lei- "slimy" (see slime (n.), and compare slick (v.)).
The original sense is obsolete. The evolution probably is from "smooth" (c. 1300), to "slim, slender; of light texture," hence "not good or strong; insubstantial, trifling, inferior, insignificant" (early 14c.). The meaning "small in amount" is from 1520s.
The sense of German cognate schlecht developed from "smooth, plain, simple" to "bad, mean, base," and as it did it was replaced in the original senses by schlicht, a back-formation from schlichten "to smooth, to plane," a derivative of schlecht in the old sense [Klein]. English slight also had the same tendency, and 15c.-17c., used of persons, could mean "humble, low; of little worth or account."
slight (n.)
1550s, "small amount or weight" (a sense now obsolete), from slight (v.). The meaning "intentional neglect or ignoring out of displeasure or contempt" is from 1701, probably via 17c.-18c. phrase make (a) slight of "regard as trifling or unimportant."
slightness (n.)
"character or state of being slight; smallness or lack of substance," c. 1600; see slight (adj.) + -ness.
slight (v.)
c. 1300, slighten, "make plain or smooth with a sleek-stone," from slight (adj.); hence also "adorn oneself" (early 14c.) and in 17c. often "raze, level" (fortifications, cities, etc.). These senses are obsolete. The meaning "treat with indifference" (1590s) is from the adjective in the sense of "having little worth." Related: Slighted; slighting. As a verb the Elizabethan dramatists also used slighten.
slighting (adj.)
"disparaging, treating with derogatory indifference," 1630s, present-participle adjective from slight (v.). Related: Slightingly.
slightly (adv.)
1520s, "slenderly, slimly;" 1590s, "in a small degree or measure," from slight (adj.) + -ly (2). It is attested also from 1590s as "with little respect or ceremony," but OED marks this as "rare."
slim (adj.)
1650s, "thin, slight, slender," usually with suggestion of gracefulness, from Dutch slim "bad, sly, clever," from Middle Dutch slim "slanting, crooked; bad, wrong," from Proto-Germanic *slembaz "oblique, crooked" (source also of Middle High German slimp "slanting, awry," German schlimm "bad, cunning, unwell"), which is of unknown origin. Italian sghembo "crooked, slanting, lopsided" is from Germanic.
Not found in Middle English. The Germanic sense evolution seems to be "slanting" to "slight, insignificant" then "gracefully slender." Down another path, "slanting" to "crooked" to "bad, sick, wrong."
Of chances, etc., "meager, small" from 1670s. The sense of "slight, flimsy, unsubstantial" is by 1813, of fabric. In English 17c. also sometimes in reference to persons with a sense "sly, cunning, crafty." Related: Slimly; slimness.
With obsolete extended adjectival forms slimsy "flimsy, unsubstantial" (1845, American English, of fabric, etc.); slimikin "small and slender" (1745). Slim Jim attested from 1887 in sense of "very thin person;" from 1902 as a type of slender cigar; from 1975 as a brand of meat snack. Slim volume "book of verse by a little-known or aspiring poet" is by 1920.
slimming (adj.)
"producing an appearance of thinness," 1925, present-participle adjective from slim (v.).