smuggle

Where does the word "smuggle" come from? It comes from Low German/Dutch smukkelen, and was adopted directly into English (1680s).

Smuggle’s story begins in Low German/Dutch: smukkelen meant “to move secretly.” High British customs duties in the 1700s made smuggling a major coastal trade. It reached English by 1680s as smuggle. Settled as the English word for secretly moving goods to avoid duties or laws. Today, smuggle means to move goods or people illegally or secretly, avoiding detection.

1. Stage 1 · Low German/Dutch · 1600s smukkelen "to move secretly", high British customs duties in the 1700s made smuggling a major coastal trade.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1680s smuggle "to move goods illegally to avoid detection", settled as the English word for secretly moving goods to avoid duties or laws.