Slather
/ˈslæð.ər/noun
To spread or smear something thickly or generously.
Did you know?Slather is probably related to older dialect words like slathering for mud or mire, showing how English often turns physical mess into everyday action words.
Etymological Timeline
Late 18th–19th Century
English
slather
“To spread or smear thickly, especially in a messy or excessive way.”
Older English Dialects
English
slathering
“Mud, mire, or a slippery mess.”
Middle English
English
slathery
“Slippery, muddy, or slimy.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sluthrō- / *slath-
“A slippery or muddy state; exact reconstruction uncertain.”