Sleet
/sliːt/noun
Sleet refers to a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets or frozen rain.
Did you know?The word 'sleet' is believed to derive from a term meaning 'to slide', hinting at its slippery, treacherous nature in folklore associated with winter spirits.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
slēet
“A term for hail or a mixture of rain and snow.”
Middle English
ME
slete
“Describing a combination of rain and snow.”
14th Century
English
sleet
“Referring specifically to icy precipitation.”
Modern English
English
sleet
“Now commonly understood as small ice pellets falling from the sky.”