Ooze
/uːz/noun
To flow or seep out slowly, or a soft, wet, muddy substance.
Did you know?The ancient root behind “ooze” is also linked through Latin virus to the idea of poisonous, slimy fluid—long before “virus” meant a microscopic pathogen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weis-
“To melt away, flow, or produce a slimy substance”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*waisō
“A flowing, wet, or slimy substance”
Old English
OE
wāse
“Ooze, mud, mire, sap, or juice”
Middle English
ME
wose
“Soft mud or a slimy liquid”
16th Century
English
ooze
“To seep or flow slowly; soft mud”
Modern English
English
ooze
“To seep gradually or emerge as a thick, wet substance”