Sloughing
/ˈslʌf.ɪŋ/noun
The act of shedding or casting off dead tissue, skin, or an outer layer.
Did you know?In English, sloughing comes from an old word for a swampy hollow or bog, and its connection to shedding likely developed through the idea of something soft, loose, and peeling away.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
slōh
“A muddy hollow or marsh; a swampy place”
Middle English
ME
sloughen
“To shed or cast off, especially skin or an outer covering”
Middle English
ME
slough
“A swamp, mire, or muddy depression”
Modern English
English
sloughing
“Shedding or casting off an outer layer, especially dead skin or tissue”