sneak

Definition

One who sneaks; one who moves stealthily to acquire an item or information.

Etymology

Possibly from Middle English sniken (“to creep, crawl”), from Old English snīcan (“to creep, crawl”), from Proto-West Germanic *snīkan, from Proto-Germanic *snīkaną (“to creep, crawl”), which is related to the root of snake. Compare Danish snige (“to sneak”), Swedish snika (“to sneak, hanker after”), Icelandic sníkja (“to sneak, hanker after”). Possibly related to snitch.

Example Sentences

• "My little brother is such a sneak; yesterday I caught him trying to look through my diary."
• "I can't believe I gave that sneak $50 for a ticket when they were selling for $20 at the front gate."
• "We would have been laughed off the street in Philadelphia if we were seen wearing sneaks. In the big city, the young population wore loafers or boots."