Slick
/slɪk/noun
Smooth, glossy, or cleverly skillful; also slippery or cunning.
Did you know?The word’s oldest English sense is tied to smoothness and slipperiness, and its “crafty/cunning” meaning grew naturally from the idea of something that slips away from your grasp.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*slei-
“to be slippery, slimy”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*slikaz
“smooth, glossy, slick”
Old English
English
slic
“smooth, glossy, slippery”
Middle English
English
slick
“smooth, sleek, or slippery”
16th-17th Century
English
slick
“neat, polished, or cunning”
Modern English
English
slick
“smooth, glossy, skillful, or slyly clever”