Inkling
/ˈɪŋk.lɪŋ/noun
A slight indication or vague idea; a hint.
Did you know?The word is tied to an old English verb meaning “to hint or suggest secretly,” so an inkling was once less a thought and more a covert message trying to take form.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
incle
“a hint or secret suggestion”
Middle English
ME
inkling
“a faint notion, whisper, or secret intimation”
16th Century
English
inkling
“a slight indication or rumor”
Modern English
English
inkling
“a slight idea or vague suspicion”