Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
OOZE
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English wose, from Old English wāse mire; akin to Old Norse veisa stagnant water Date: before 12th century a soft deposit (as of mud, slime, or shells) on the bottom of a body of water, a piece of soft wet plastic ground,
II. verb (oozed; oozing)
Etymology: Middle English wosen, from wose sap
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb to pass or flow slowly through or as if through small openings or interstices, to move slowly or imperceptibly ,
3. to exude moisture, to exude something often in a faintly repellent manner , transitive verb to emit slowly, exude 2 ,
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English wose sap, juice, from Old English wōs; akin to Old High German waso damp
Date: 1587
a decoction of vegetable material used for tanning leather, the act of oozing, something that oozes