slip

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To slide and lose your balance suddenly.

   She slipped on the wet floor and fell.

2. 2
   noun

   A small accident in which you slide and almost fall.

   I blamed my slip on the ice.

3. 3
   verb

   To put or move something quickly and quietly.

   I slipped some money into the waiter's hand.

4. 4
   noun

   A small piece of paper.

   She handed me a slip with the address written on it.

5. 5
   verb

   To get worse gradually.

   My grades have been slipping this term.

From Middle English slyp, slep, slyppe, from Old English slyp, slyppe, slipa (“a viscous, slimy substance”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-West Germanic *sleupan, from Proto-Germanic *sleupaną (“to slip, sneak”), possibly connected with Proto-Indo-European *slewb-, *slewbʰ- (“slip, slide”), from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“to sneak, crawl”); or alternatively from Proto-Germanic *slippijaną (“to glide”), from Proto-Indo-European *sleyb- (“slimy; to glide”). Compare Old English slūpan (“to slip, glide”), Old English cūslyppe, cūsloppe (“cowslip”).

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