quicksand

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quicksand

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From Middle English quyksande, from Old English cwecesand (“quicksand”), equivalent to quick (“living”) +‎ sand. Cognate with Swedish kvicksand (“quicksand”), Icelandic kviksandur, kviksyndi (“quicksand”). More at quick, sand.

quicksand (countable and uncountable, plural quicksands)

1. Wet sand that appears firm but in which things readily sink, often found near rivers or coasts.

   My feet were firmly lodged in the quicksand, and the more I struggled the more I sank into it.

2. (figuratively) Anything that pulls one down or buries one.

   the quicksands of youth

• syrtis, syrt (archaic)