Slack
/slæk/noun
Not tight, firm, or active; loose, slow, or lacking energy.
Did you know?Slack is an ancient Germanic word, and its deep relatives also gave English words like “slake,” meaning to quench or satisfy—so the word family is tied to slackening, easing, and letting go.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sleg-
“to be slack, lazy, or smooth”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*slakaz
“loose, slack, not tight”
Old English
English
slæc
“slack, slow, or negligent”
Middle English
English
slak
“loose, not tense; slow or remiss”
Modern English
English
slack
“not tight or taut; lacking activity or energy”