sleazy English · revision 1150

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsliː.zi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is unknown.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) One theory derives it from ''Silesia'', the German region where thin linen was made for export,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) but the OED finds the evidence against any original connection,^(Etymonline) and Random House calls the link folk etymology.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of textiles, hairy or fuzzy (1644), and flimsy, unsubstantial (about 1645).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of thin or flimsy cloth (1670) was extended figuratively to anything slight or shoddy.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The current sense, sordid, squalid and disreputable, is first recorded in 1941;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Random House suggests it may be a distinct word.^(RHWU) ''Sleaze'' is a back-formation from ''sleazy'' (1961).^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1644 – of fabric, fuzzy.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1645 – flimsy, unsubstantial.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670 – thin in texture.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1941 – sordid, squalid.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1961 – ''sleaze''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Shabby, dirty and vulgar; [[squalid]] or [[tawdry]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Dishonest, corrupt or [[disreputable]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Made of cheap materials; [[shoddy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of fabric, thin and loosely woven; flimsy.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sleazily]]

+ * [[sleaziness]]

+ * [[sleaze]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Silesia]]

+ * [[shoddy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}