slink

[ slingk ]
See synonyms for slink on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),slunk [sluhngk] /slʌŋk/ or (Archaic) slank [slangk]; /slæŋk/; slunk;slink·ing.
  1. to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.

  2. to walk or move in a slow, sinuous, provocative way.

verb (used with object),slunk [sluhngk] /slʌŋk/ or (Archaic) slank [slangk]; /slæŋk/; slunk;slink·ing.
  1. (especially of cows) to bring forth (young) prematurely.

noun
  1. a prematurely born calf or other animal.

adjective
  1. born prematurely: a slink calf.

Origin of slink

1
First recorded before 1150; Middle English slynken (verb), Old English slincan “to creep, crawl”; cognate with Low German slinken, German schlinken

Other words for slink

Other words from slink

  • slink·ing·ly, adverb
  • outslink, verb (used with object), out·slunk, out·slink·ing.
  • un·slink·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with slink

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use slink in a sentence

  • Then Haji Kas arose, and gat him out of the chest; and he and his son slank away in shame together.

    The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram
  • He was left in a low slank after a fflood, and ye water fell away from him, and he died.

  • Tom slank away, while Jack explained the insolence of the man, getting advice born of long experience.

    With Wellington in Spain | F. S. Brereton
  • There was another roar of laughter—feebly suppressed by a judicial frown—and I slank away, annihilated.

  • There they slank behind a curtain; and when he came out, the rings above fluttered with fear and love and hope.

    Cradock Nowell, Vol. 1 (of 3) | Richard Doddridge Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for slink

slink

/ (slɪŋk) /


verbslinks, slinking or slunk
  1. (intr) to move or act in a furtive or cringing manner from or as if from fear, guilt, etc

  2. (intr) to move in a sinuous alluring manner

  1. (tr) (of animals, esp cows) to give birth to prematurely

noun
    • an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely

    • (as modifier): slink veal

Origin of slink

1
Old English slincan; related to Middle Low German slinken to shrink, Old Swedish slinka to creep, Danish slunken limp

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012