- slip (v.)
- c.1300, "to escape, to move softly and quickly," from M.L.G. slippen "to glide, slide," from P.Gmc. *slipanan (cf. O.H.G. slifan, M.Du. slippen, Ger. schleifen "to glide, slide"), from PIE *sleib- "slimy, slippery," from base *(s)lei- "slimy, sticky, slippery" (see slime). Meaning "to lose one's footing" is from c.1340. The noun meaning "woman's sleeveless garment" is first recorded 1761. Meaning "mistake, minor fault" is from 1620. To give (someone) the slip is from 1567. To slip up "make a mistake" is from 1855; to slip through the net "evade detection" is from 1902. Slip-knot first attested 1659. Slip-stream is from 1913.
- slip (n.)
- "narrow strip," 1440, probably from M.L.G. or M.Du. slippe "cut, slit," possibly related to O.E. toslifan "to split, cleave." Sense of "sprig for planting or grafting" first recorded in 1495; that of "young slender person" (a slip of a girl) in 1582; that of "narrow piece of paper" (e.g. pink slip) in 1687. Meaning "boat ramp" is from 1769. The meaning "potter's clay" is a different word, from O.E. slyppe "slime," related to slupan "to slip."