slick

The popular pronunciation of sleek, and so written by some authors.--Webster. It is also used adverbially in vulgar language, like many other adjectives.

"This word," says Todd, "was formerly written slick; and slick or slicken is still our northern word." It is also provincial in Kent, while, in other parts of England, the verb to slick, to comb or make sleek the hair, is provincial.--Holloway's Prov. Dict.

Dr. Jamieson also notices it as used in Scotland, slik, smooth, slippery, for sleek.

Her flesh tender as is a chicke,

With bent browes, smooth and slike.--Chaucer, Rom. of the Rose.

When silver bow'd Apollo bred, in the Pierian mead,

Both slicke and daintie, yet were both in war of wound'rous dread.--Chapman, Homer.

Glass attracts but weakly; some slick stones, and thick glasses indifferently.--Brown, Vulgar Errors.

That the bodie thereof is not all over smoothe and slicke (as we see in birds' eggs), is shewed by good arguments.--Holland, Trans. of Pliny.

The rail-road company, out of sheer parsimony, have neglected to fence in their line, which goes slick through the centre of your garden.--Blackwood's Mag., July, 1847 [Letter from a Rail-way Witness].

Well! one comfort is, that there ain't many folks to see how bid you look here in the woods! We ain't used to seein' folks look so dreadful slick,--so it don't matter--Mrs. Clavers's Forest Life, Vol. 1. p. 114.

Singin' is a science which comes pretty tough at first; but it goes slick afterwards.--Peter Cram of Tinnecum, Knick. Mag., 1841.

Then here's to women, then to liquor;

There's nothing swimmin' can be slicker.--Boatman's Song.

The Senate could not pass Mr. Stevenson through for England. The reason was, he was a-going through right slick, till he came to his coat-pockets, and they were so full of papers written by Ritchie ,that he stuck fast, and hung by the flaps.--Crockett, Tour, p. 120.