词源 |
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. updated on January 11, 2023 |