slinky

slink +‎ -y

• IPA^(key): /ˈslɪŋki/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋki

slinky (comparative slinkier, superlative slinkiest)

1. Furtive, stealthy or catlike.
2. (Northumbria, dated) Thin; lank; lean.
   • 1836, Haliburton, Thomas Chandler, The Clockmaker, volume 3, London: Richard Bentley, published 1843, page 163:

     Do you see that are tall, limber-timbered, slinky-lookin' man with the blue cloak and two long black cords a-hangin' from it with almighty big tassels a-danglin' to the eend^[sic] of it like the lamp-rope there, a-carryin' part of the cloak folded on one arm like a Roman senator, and t'other arm kimber, with his hat cockaded military like?--well, that is General Conrad Corncob.

   • 1871, Holl, Henry, The Golden Bait, volume 3, page 9:

     "Oh--that," said Mrs. Savaker, jerking her head in the direction of the defunct exciseman; "that war my husband, and war thow't a gude likeness. But it's not. It's not half red enough, an a deal too slinky in the should for him."

3. Of a garment: close-fitting; clingy.
   • 2017 October 2, Jess Cartner-Morle, “Stella McCartney lays waste to disposable fashion in Paris”, in the Guardian‎:

     The double-breasted blazer which is on every front row this season came with an elbow-length sleeve for spring, while jumpsuits, a signature of the label, came slinky and tailored or in a blowsier boiler suit silhouette.

• (furtive): sneaky, surreptitious; see also Thesaurus:covert
• (thin): lithe, willowy; see also Thesaurus:slender
• (of a garment): figure-hugging, snug; see also Thesaurus:close-fitting

slinky (plural slinkies)

1. (mathematics) A three-dimensional curve — a spiral wound around a helix.

• linksy