*(s)leu-

Meanings

1.

gliding, slipping in/out

(Notable English members of that family are "lubricant" and its relatives and "sleeve". The verb "to slip" is not related etymologically.)

Word Family

The core idea of this root was:

gliding, slipping out

It’s very similar to the root *(s)lei- which is the origin of words like slide and slick, but the sources do not mention a connection.

In English, this root here is the origin of sleeve, sloppy and the family around lubricant.

The German side of the family is a bit bigger and got more creative with the idea. The verb schlüpfen was originally about gliding out (or in) an opening. From that evolved the nouns Schleife and Schlaufe which now are about a loop shape in a chord, but originally referred to the “sliding into” you can do with a loop.

The origin of schlau (cunning, smart) was the idea of being sneaky, making your way in or out somewhere.

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auf dem Schlauch stehen

sich schlau machen

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