sneak English · revision 10605

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=1596|origins=ang snīcan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sniːk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is obscurely related to early Middle English sniken, to creep, crawl (about 1200),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from Old English [[m|ang|snīcan]] (before 899),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|gem-pro|*sneikanan]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) cognate with Old Norse sníkja, to desire, hanker, and Danish snige, to sneak,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and related to [[snail]] and [[snake]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The NODE suggests the 16th-century word was probably dialectal.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To move in a stealthy, slinking way: 1596, in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV;^(Barnhart 1988) 1594 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) The stem appears earlier in sneakishly (1560).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a sneaking or contemptible person, is from before 1643,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and the act of sneaking by 1700.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To insert or bring stealthily is by the 1640s,^(Etymonline) to take something on the sly from 1883,^(Etymonline) and ''sneak up on'' by 1869.^(Etymonline) A ''sneak thief'' is recorded by 1859.^(Etymonline) In British school slang, to sneak is to tell tales.^(Collins 2023) ''Sneaky'' is from 1833,^(Barnhart 1988) and soft-soled shoes were sneaks from 1862, the source of [[sneaker]].^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1560 – sneakishly.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1596 – to sneak.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1643 – a sneak (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1833 – sneaky.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1859 – sneak thief.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – a soft shoe (slang).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move quietly and stealthily.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To bring, take or put somewhere secretly: ''to sneak a look''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(UK, informal)'' To tell tales, especially at school.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A stealthy, cowardly or underhand person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Done secretly or without warning: ''a sneak attack''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sneaker]]

+ * [[sneaky]]

+ * [[sneak preview]]

+ * [[sneak thief]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[snake]]

+ * [[snail]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}