slip English · revision 6818

+ English has three words spelled slip: to glide or slide, with its nouns; a narrow strip or a cutting; and a creamy clay.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈslɪp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|glide, slide}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325|origins=ine-pro *sleyb-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is Middle English slippen, probably [[bor|gml|slippen|t=to glide, slide]], or from an unrecorded Old English word,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with [[goh|slīfan]] and [[non|sleipr|t=slippery]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*slīpaną]], from PIE [[ine-pro|*sleyb-|alt=*(s)leib-|t=slippery]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Old English had the related adjective [[m|ang|slipor|t=slippery]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To get away or escape: before 1325, in the ''Cursor Mundi'';^(Barnhart 1988) the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) To slide out of place is from about 1340.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Slipping and losing one's footing, and figuratively erring, are 14th-century senses;^(Hoad 1986) to cause to slide, to get loose from, and to let go are from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) Nouns made from the verb include a sloping landing place for boats (mid-15th century), an act of slipping (1590s), and a mistake, especially a small one (1570s).^(Etymonline) ''To give someone the slip'' is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) A woman's sleeveless garment easily slipped on is from 1761, originally an outer garment and by 1870 an undergarment.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – to escape.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1340 – to slide out of place.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – a landing place for boats.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – give someone the slip.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – a mistake.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1761 – a woman's garment.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To slide accidentally and lose one's balance or footing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move smoothly, quietly or [[stealth|alt=stealthily]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To put on or take off easily or quickly: ''slip on a sweater''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To pass gradually or decline: ''standards slipped''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To escape or get free from: ''slip one's mind''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of slipping.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A small mistake: ''a slip of the tongue''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A woman's sleeveless [[undergarment]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sloping place for landing or building ships; a [[slipway]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[slipper]]

+ * [[slippery]]

+ * [[slipshod]]

+ * [[landslip]]

+ * [[slipknot]]

+ * [[slipway]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|narrow strip; cutting}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1440}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The strip is Middle English slyp, slippe, probably [[bor|gml|slippe|t=cut, slit, lappet]] or Middle Dutch slippe,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) perhaps related to [[m|ang|tōslīfan|t=to split]] (see [[sliver]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The edge of a garment: 1440, in the ''Promptorium Parvulorum'',^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A narrow piece or strip in general is from 1555,^(Barnhart 1988) the 1550s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) A twig or sprig cut for grafting is from 1495 in the OED and 1530, in Palsgrave, in Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) which gave the sense of a slender young person, as in ''a slip of a girl''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) A narrow piece of paper is by the 1680s, as in ''pink slip''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1440 – the edge of a garment.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1495 – a cutting from a plant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1555 – a narrow strip.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1680s – a slip of paper.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small piece of paper, especially one for writing on or used as a form.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A long narrow piece or strip.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A cutting from a plant for grafting or planting.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A slender young person: ''a slip of a girl''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ {{homograph|3|potter's clay}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=ang slyppe}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The clay is Middle English slyp, mud, slime,^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|slyppe|t=slime, slippery substance]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) related to [[m|ang|slūpan|t=to slip]] (see [[sleeve]]).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A soft semi-liquid mass: about 1000 in the OED, a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Mud or slime is from 1440, and potter's clay thinned to a creamy liquid, used for decorating or casting, is first recorded in 1640 with the spelling slip.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Curdled milk (about 1425) survives in American use.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – a soft mass.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1440 – mud.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1640 – potter's clay.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Clay thinned with water to a creamy liquid, used for decorating or casting [[pottery]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[slime]]

+ * [[sleeve]]

+ * [[sliver]]

+ * [[slop]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}