quicksand

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.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/

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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 metaphorically pulls one down or buries one; a treacherous, risky danger

   the quicksands of youth

• syrtis, syrt (archaic)