Slinking
/ˈslɪŋ.kɪŋ/noun
Moving smoothly, quietly, and secretly, often in a way that suggests guilt or stealth.
Did you know?The verb ultimately belongs to the same old Germanic root behind words for slippery movement, not to anything mystical — but English has long used it to describe furtive, almost sneaking behavior.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*slinkaną
“to creep, crawl, or move stealthily”
Old English
OE
sincan / slincan
“to creep or move slowly and stealthily”
Middle English
ME
slinken
“to move furtively, sneak, or creep along”
Modern English
English
slink
“to move smoothly and quietly with a furtive or sneaking quality”
Modern English
English
slinking
“moving in a stealthy, sneaky, or furtive way”