slink

[slingk]

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verb (used without object), slunk or (Archaic) slank; slunk; slink·ing.

to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.

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

verb (used with object), slunk or (Archaic) slank; slunk; slink·ing.

(especially of cows) to bring forth (young) prematurely.

noun

a prematurely born calf or other animal.

adjective

born prematurely: a slink calf.

Origin of slink

before 1150; Middle English slynken (v.), Old English slincan to creep, crawl; cognate with Low German slinken, German schlinken

Related formsslink·ing·ly, adverbout·slink, verb (used with object), out·slunk, out·slink·ing.un·slink·ing, adjective

Can be confusedsling slink

Synonyms for slink

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR slink ON THESAURUS.COM

1. skulk, sneak; lurk.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for slink

skulk, slither, lurk, undulate, skitter, prowl, sidle, sneak, meander, pussyfoot, glide, cower, glissade, slick, coast, slide, snake, slip, shirk, steal

Examples from the Web for slink

Contemporary Examples of slink

Jones, ever the charmer, proceeds to slink behind the desk and begin fake-hammering away at the keyboard.
Felicity Jones Is Bound for Stardom
Marlow Stern
December 29, 2013
We began to slink outside, tentatively crossing the terrace.
Our Visit From Irene
India Hicks
August 27, 2011

Historical Examples of slink

He waited his opportunity to slink out of camp to the woods.
White Fang
Jack London
He would have succeeded, nevertheless, had he not been so ready to slink off as soon as you looked at him.
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad
You can't hope to slink past a cunning, wide-awake, evil brute like he was.
The Shadow-Line
Joseph Conrad
I believe my faith the higher, the better for mankind—Am I to slink away?
The Mob (Third Series Plays)
John Galsworthy
Can I slink by a side-road out of sight of my own intelligence?'
Despair's Last Journey
David Christie Murray

British Dictionary definitions for slink

slink

verb slinks, slinking or slunk

(intr) to move or act in a furtive or cringing manner from or as if from fear, guilt, etc

(intr) to move in a sinuous alluring manner

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

noun

an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely
(as modifier)slink veal

Word Origin for slink

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

Word Origin and History for slink

Old English slincan "to creep, crawl" (of reptiles), from Proto-Germanic *slinkan (cf. Swedish slinka "to glide," Dutch slinken "to shrink, shrivel;" related to sling (v.)). Of persons, attested from late 14c. Related: Slinked; slinking.