sleuth
[slooth]
- a detective.
- a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.
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- to track or trail, as a detective.
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Origin of sleuth
First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for sleuthing
Contemporary Examples
Not only did she rebuff his awkward advance in person, she went home and did some sleuthing.
In the beginning of the film, Veronica has washed her hands [of sleuthing].
Interview: Kristen Bell, Voiceover Queen, On ‘Frozen,’ ‘Veronica Mars,’ & MoreAndrew Romano
December 18, 2013
For the reader, however, the sleuthing Scannon does is the point.
Will These Men Ever Come Home? The Search for Missing WWII Pilots in “Vanished”Jordan Michael Smith
November 14, 2013
Reddit's attempt at sleuthing seems to have fallen very, very flat.
After some Internet sleuthing, The Daily Beast tracked down the culprit: 31-year old Milwaukee filmmaker Mike Stoklasa.
Historical Examples
“No future for you in this sleuthing business,” commented the old man tersely.
'Me-Smith'Caroline Lockhart
But what is there to be sleuthing about in this sleepy little town of Sunnyside?
The Seven Sleuths' ClubCarol Norton
She did not want to be seen by 65 that other sleuthing person.
The Adventure Girls at K Bar OClair Blank
She and Chub spent every minute they could sleuthing the office as he called it.
Joan of the JournalHelen Diehl Olds
“I may want to call on you for some sleuthing,” explained Mary Louise.
The Mystery of the FiresEdith Lavell
sleuth
- an informal word for detective
- short for sleuthhound (def. 1)
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- (tr) to track or follow
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Word Origin
C19: short for sleuthhound, from C12 sleuth trail, from Old Norse sloth; see slot ²
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
Word Origin and History for sleuthing
sleuth
n.
c.1200, "track or trail of a person," from Old Norse sloð "trail," of uncertain origin. Meaning "detective" is 1872, shortening of sleuth-hound "keen investigator" (1849), a figurative use of a word that dates back to late 14c. meaning a kind of bloodhound. The verb (intransitive) meaning "to act as a detective, investigate" is recorded from 1905. Related: Sleuthed; sleuthing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper