slink

American  

[slingk] / slɪŋk /

verb (used without object)

slunk, slank, slunk, slinking

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

   Synonyms:

   lurk, sneak, skulk

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

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verb (used with object)

slunk, slank, slunk, slinking

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.

slink British  

/ slɪŋk /

verb

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

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

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noun

1. 1. an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely

   2. ( as modifier )

      slink veal

Other Word Forms

• outslink verb (used with object)
• slinkingly adverb
• unslinking adjective

Etymology

Origin of slink

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

Example Sentences

Every now and then, he watched people pull into the gas station and slink back in the car for their drive of shame.

From The Wall Street Journal

The album was “Transference,” its cover a grainy seventies tableau — a boy slinking low in a golden wingback chair, viridian curtains pooling behind him, a table lamp casting an almost aggressively orange glow.

From Salon

“They slink in without warning, do no immediate damage so far as one can tell and then begin their deadly work from within….”

From The Wall Street Journal

These days, he says, if the doorbell rings unexpectedly, the whole household snaps into survival mode — lights off, bodies flattened behind the couch, everyone holding their breath until the offending visitor slinks away.

From Salon

“It’s a little bit like herding cats sometimes,” Kramer said of keeping volunteers from trying to slink away.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• lurk
• meander
• prowl
• sidle
• skitter
• skulk
• slither
• sneak
• undulate