▪ I. sleek, n.1 Sc.
(sliːk)
Also slick, slieck.
[prob. short for sleek measure: cf. sleek v. 1 c, and MFlem. sleec, sleic (mod.Flem. sleek, sleik) adj., even with the top of the vessel.]
A measure for fruit, etc. (see later quots.).
| 1705 in W. Hector Judic. Rec. Renfrewshire (1876) 42 Ten slicks of keeping apples, such as his lady shall choyce. 1793 in Ure Hist. Rutherglen 45 Each Slieck of Fruit, ½d. 1808 Jamieson Addit., Sleek, a measure of fruits, or roots, &c., containing forty pounds. 1820 Cleland Rise & Progr. Glasgow 167 Fruit is sold by the sleek of 20 Scotch pints. 1856 Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 1126 Sleek (Clydesdale), of apples or pears, a peck = 2½ gallons. |
▪ II. sleek, n.2 Sc. rare.
(sliːk)
Also 8 sleik.
[? Related to sleech n. or sleck n.]
Mud; a mud-bank.
| 1774 D. Graham Hist. Rebell. Wks. 1883 I. 206 The pilot run her into a creek, Got past the breakers, 'mong sand and sleik. 1875 A. Smith New Hist. Aberdeenshire I. 31 The sleeks of the estuary of the Ythan. |
▪ III. sleek, n.3 Naut.
(sliːk)
[f. sleek a.]
(See quot. and cf. slick n.1 3 a.)
| 1840 F. D. Bennett Narr. Whaling Voy. II. v. 202 Broad oily tracks, or ‘sleeks’ on the surface of the water, (produced by the recent passage of a party of cetaceans). |
▪ IV. sleek, a. and adv.
(sliːk)
Forms: 6 sleke, slieke, sleake, 6–7 sleik, sleeke, 7– sleek.
[Later variant form of ME. slĭke slick a.]
1. Of animals, their limbs, etc.: Having, or covered with, hair or fur which lies close and smooth, usually a sign of good condition or careful attention.
| 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 3 While I..sticke muske roses in thy sleeke smoothe head. 1634 Heywood & Brome Lanc. Witches iv. H.'s Wks. 1874 IV. 223 You may see by his plump belly and sleeke legs he hath not bin sore travail'd. 1714 Gay Sheph. Week Monday 36 See this Tobacco Pouch that's lin'd with Hair, Made of the Skin of sleekest fallow Deer. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 91 No quadrupede is fatter, none has a more sleek or glossy skin [than the mole]. 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall ii. (1877) 16 She rode a sleek white pony. 1859 E. Capern Ball. & Songs 148 The sleek and dappled kine. |
b. Of hair, etc., in this condition.
| 1829 Lytton Disowned 7 Bright were the eyes and sleek the tresses of the damsel. 1841 ― Night & M. i. vi, His hair short, dark, and sleek. 1859 Dickens T. Two Cities i. iv, He wore an odd little sleek crisp flaxen wig. |
2. Of surfaces: Entirely free from roughness; perfectly smooth or polished.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. (Arb.) 251 Her bosome sleake as Paris plaster. a 1601 ? Marston Pasquil & Kath. iii. (1878) 136 With a soft sleeke hand I'le clap thy cheeke. 1665 Hooke Microgr. 100 A very smooth and sleek surface, almost like the surface of black sealing wax. a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 218 In hot dry weather the oat-straw will be so sleek, that it will be troublesome loading and tying it together so as not to slide off from the cart. 1754 Gray Lett. (1900) I. 254 The rock is cut up till it is as smooth and as sleek as sattin. 1807 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life xx. xii, Using once more a discarded nutmeg-grater or a sleek file! 1842 Prichard Nat. Hist. Man 306 Their skin, though but an indifferent black, is always sleek and smooth. |
b. Of the sea or sky: Unruffled, tranquil. rare.
| 1603 Drayton Bar. Wars iii. xlvii, On the sleeke waters waft her sayles along. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girl D.'s Wks. 1873 III. 181 After a storme the face of heauen looks sleeke. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. ii. i. iii, What sulphur-cloud is that that defaces the sleek sea? |
3. Oily, fawning, plausible, specious.
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. i. ii, Slieke flatterie and shee Are twin-borne sisters. 1605 Chapman, etc. Eastw. Hoe ii. ii, They be the smoothest and sleekest knaves in a country. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. ii. 241 How sleeke and wanton Ye appeare in euery thing may bring my ruine! a 1789 Mickle Siege of Marseilles ii. iv, With sleek adulterous smiles. 1821 Shelley Hellas 541 After the war is fought, yield the sleek Russian That which thou canst not keep. 1850 Kingsley A. Locke iv, Being the sleek, subtle, religious sins they are. |
b. Dexterous, skilful. = slick a. 4.
| 1822 Hazlitt Table-t. Ser. ii. i, The waiter who is a sleek hand. |
4. Of persons: Having a smooth skin, esp. as the result of being in good condition; plump.
| 1637 Milton Lycidas 99 On the level brine, Sleek Panope with all her sisters play'd. 1699 Garth Dispens. i. 7 How sleik their looks, how goodly is their Mien, When big they strut behind a double Chin. 1714 N. Rowe Hor. Ep. i. iv, Me..Batt'ning in Ease you'll find, sleek, fresh, and fair. 1746 Francis tr. Hor. Ep. i. iv. 28 Here, in sleek and joyous Case, You'll find..An Hog by Epicurus fed. 1820 Lamb Elia 1. Christ's Hospital, Sleek well-fed blue-coat boys. 1877 L. Morris Epic of Hades 91 What were it to lie Sleek, crowned with roses. |
| fig. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. ii. xi, Monarchism itself..lies sleek and buried. 1878 Geo. Eliot Coll. Breakf. P. 367 In a sleek and rural apathy. |
5. Coal-mining. (See quot.)
| 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-m. 225 Sleek, soft and troublesome, as applied to the state of the floor in steep seams. |
6. As adv. In a smooth or sleek manner.
| 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. i, The chub-fac't fop Shines sleeke with full cramm'd fat of happinesse. 1735 Somerville Chase ii. 494 Nor can his spotted Skin, Tho' sleek it shine,..Save the proud Pard from unrelenting Fate. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 161 The feathers, which lie so sleek and in such beautiful order. 1859 Dickens T. Two Cities i. iv, His brown stockings fitted sleek and close. |
7. Comb., as sleek-browed, sleek-faced, sleek-haired, sleek-headed, sleek-looking, sleek-skinned.
| 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 193 Let me haue men about me, that are fat, Sleeke-headed men. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. i. Wks. 1856 I. 11 With most obsequious sleek-brow'd intertain. 1604 Middleton Father Hubburd's T. Wks. (Bullen) VIII. 107 A fair sleek-faced courtier. 1661 R. Brathwait Comment. Two Tales (1901) 49 You say a sleek-skinn'd Cat will ever go a Caterwawing. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 41 The advice of his sleek-headed ministry. 1823 Cobbett Rural Rides (1885) I. 290 This school⁓master was a sleek-looking young fellow. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge iv, An old-fashioned, thin-faced, sleek-haired,..small-eyed little fellow. 1853 James Agnes Sorel (1860) II. 221 Were I..a sleek-faced negotiator. |
▪ V. sleek, v.
(sliːk)
Also 5 slekyn, 6 sleke, 6–7 sleak, 7 sleeke, sleik.
[Later variant form of ME. slĭke(n slick v.]
1. a. trans. To make sleek or smooth by rubbing or polishing.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 459/1 Slekyn, licibricinnulo. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 72 They curiously sleeke their paper, which is thick. 1683 Pepys Diary at Tangier in Life (1841) I. 422 When dry, they sleek it [calico] with smooth shells, and roll it up. 1771 Luckombe Hist. Print. 33 The paper..was sleeked with a tooth or shell. 1852 C. Morfit Arts of Tanning, etc. 375 The skin is..sleeked with a round-knife. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 175 A hide of leather is..sleeked down till the surface is perfectly smooth. |
b. To reduce to smoothness; to invest with a smooth unruffled appearance.
| 1513 [see sleeked ppl. a. 1]. 1619 Drayton Bar. Wars iii. 47 Sleek eu'ry little Dimple of the Lake: Sweet Syrens, and be readie with your Song. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake, Kilmeny xii, The moon that sleeks the sky. 1834 Aird Churchyard Eclog. 119 Forth looks the sun,..and sleeks the slippery hills. |
c. Sc. To fill to, make level with, the brim or top.
| 1863 R. Quinn Heather Lintie (ed. 2) 126 Although the tears I shed behin' her Wad sleek a sheuch. 1882 Jamieson's Sc. Dict. s.v., ‘Noo, sleek the stimpart,’ i.e. smooth or level the grain in the measure. |
2. a. To make (the skin, hair, etc.) smooth and glossy.
| 1508 Mayd Emlyn 49 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 85 Ofte wolde she sleke To make smothe her cheke, With redde roses therin. 1609 Dekker Gull's Horn Bk. Wks. (Grosart) II. 212 A round face sleekt and washt ouer with whites of egges. 1634 Milton Comus 832 Fair Ligea's golden comb, Wherwith she sits..Sleeking her soft alluring locks. 1720 Pope Iliad xxiii. 350 That wont to deck Their flowing manes, and sleek their glossy neck. 1786 Pogmologia 133 Thick beards sleeked in the same manner as their hair is. 1830 Tennyson A Character ii, He smooth'd his chin and sleek'd his hair. 1895 A. Nutt Voy. Bran I. 238 Two great eagles come and sleek the great bird with their bills. |
| refl. 1891 C. E. Norton Dante's Purgat. viii. 51 Licking like a beast that sleeks itself. |
b. to sleek up, to make presentable, or of attractive appearance.
| 1618 Fletcher Chances iii. i, Sleek up your self, leave crying, For I must have ye entertain this Lady With all civility. a 1639 W. Whately Prototypes i. xix. (1640) 241 There is such a man's servant, she is exceedingly sleeked up, see..what a dress shee hath. |
c. To lay back, to flatten.
| 1894 Crockett Raiders vi, The poor beast..stood most pitifully still, sleeking back its ears. |
d. To draw (a comb) through hair with a smoothing effect.
| 1959 Listener 21 May 904/1 The boys sleeking combs through their hair. 1967 G. B. Mair Girl from Peking vii. 73 The Admiral..was sleeking a comb through his thinning hair. |
3. transf. or fig. To render sleek or smooth, in various senses: a. Denoting removal of agitation, disturbance, deep thought, etc.
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. ii. 27 Gentle my Lord, sleeke o're your rugged Lookes, Be bright and Iouiall. 1640 Yorke Union Hon., Commend. Verses, So much fancy, as may sleeke My Lords brow, and dimple my Ladies cheeke. 1859 Tennyson Merlin & V. 748 To sleek her ruffled peace of mind. 1864 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xvii. ii. (1865) VII. 19 So very possible to sleek them down into peace, thought Majesty's Ministry. |
b. Denoting the assumption of friendly or flattering looks or speech. Cf. sleeked ppl. a. 2.
| 1607 Dekker & Marston Northw. Hoe i. D.'s Wks. 1873 III. 17 Ile candy o're my words, and sleeke my brow. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 5 The perswasive Rhetoric That sleek't his tongue. 1876 Morris Sigurd ii. 109 So I wrapped my heart in guile And sleeked my tongue with sweetness. |
| refl. 1877 Tennyson Harold i. i. 80 He hath learnt..To sleek and supple himself to the king's hand. |
c. To polish (a composition). Also with over.
| 1630 T. Carew To Ben Jonson, Repine not at the taper's thrifty waste, That sleeks thy terser poems. 1635 Pemble Grace & Faith Pref. 1 Unto my apprehension, such Prologues, however sleeked over, doe yet feele rough and uneven. |
d. To gloze over, put in a favourable light.
| 1871 Tennyson Last Tourn. 391 Musing how to smoothe And sleek his marriage over to the Queen. |
4. intr. To move, glide, sweep on smoothly.
| 1818 L. Hunt Foliage, Nymphs ii, For as the racks came sleeking on, one fell With rain into a dell. |
Hence ˈsleeking vbl. n. (also attrib.) and ppl. a.
| 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 116, I loath almost to thincke on..the sleeking of their faces. 1632 Marmion Holland's Leaguer iii. iv, Wherefore are all your sleekings and your curlings..composed by art? 1827 Hood Hero & Leander lix, His sleeking hair Creeps o'er her knees. 1873 E. O'Curry Lect. Ancient Irish III. 116 The sleeking stick or bone which weavers still use. 1883 R. Haldane Workshop Rec. Ser. ii. 368/1 After washing the grain with the grass-brush, it is followed by the sleeking-iron. |