slicker
Meaning
a long, loose waterproof coat, typically made of shiny material.
(informal, chiefly north american) a person who is smooth, persuasive, and often deceitful.
Structure
Usage
he pulled on his yellow slicker before heading out into the rain.
the salesman was a real slicker, charming customers into buying overpriced products.
the old fisherman's slicker was worn and shiny from years of use.
Etymology
the word 'slicker' is a transparent english compound formed from the adjective 'slick' and the agentive suffix '-er'. 'slick' itself originates from old english, related to words meaning 'smooth' or 'slippery', a concept traceable to proto-germanic roots. the '-er' suffix, a prolific germanic derivational tool, creates nouns indicating an agent or an object associated with the root. thus, a 'slicker' literally means 'something that makes one slick' (the waterproof coat) or 'one who is slick' (the smooth-talking person), directly linking the physical property of smoothness to both a functional garment and a metaphorical character trait.
Analysis
slick (from middle english slicken, meaning 'to make smooth', of old english origin, functioning as the adjectival root). er (from old english -ere, an agent/instrument suffix, of germanic origin, functioning to denote 'one who does' or 'a thing used for').