Moving stealthily or lurking with sinister or cowardly intent. Acting in a secretive, sneaky manner to avoid detection.
From Middle English 'skulken', possibly from Old Norse 'skulka' meaning 'to shirk' or 'to lurk'. The word originally implied avoiding duty or responsibility, later evolving to describe any secretive, furtive movement.
Skulking perfectly captures that specific type of movement we associate with cartoon villains - it's not just hiding, but moving with guilty, shifty intent that somehow makes the person more noticeable than if they walked normally. The word itself sounds sneaky, with its dark 'sk' beginning and lurking 'lk' consonants.
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