Slinker
/ˈslɪŋ.kər/noun
A person or thing that moves or goes away quietly, stealthily, or in a sneaking manner.
Did you know?The verb *slink* is old Germanic stock, and its sneaky sense has stayed so consistent that the word feels like it’s still tiptoeing through history.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*slinkaną
“to creep or move stealthily”
Old English
OE
slincan
“to creep, crawl, or move sluggishly”
Middle English
ME
slinken
“to move quietly, sneak away, or slip off”
16th Century
English
slink
“to go away secretly or with shame”
18th Century
English
slinker
“one who slinks; a sneaking person”
Modern English
English
slinker
“a person or animal that moves stealthily or furtively”