Chapter CDXIII: Prologue (64)

Defn: A list of candidates, prepared for nomination or for election; a list of candidates, or a programme of action, devised beforehand. [Cant, U.S.] Bartlett. Adhesive slate (Min.), a kind of slate of a greenish gray color, which absorbs water rapidly, and adheres to the tongue; whence the name. -- Aluminous slate, or Alum slate (Min.), a kind of slate containing sulphate of alumina, -- used in the manufacture of alum. -- Bituminous slate (Min.), a soft species of sectile clay slate, impregnated with bitumen. -- Hornblende slate (Min.), a slaty rock, consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar, useful for flagging on account of its toughness. -- Slate ax or axe, a mattock with an ax end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails. -- Slate clay (Geol.), an indurated clay, forming one of the alternating beds of the coal measures, consisting of an infusible compound of alumina and silica, and often used for making fire bricks. Tomlinson. -- Slate globe, a globe the surface of which is made of an artificial slatelike material. -- Slate pencil, a pencil of slate, or of soapstone, used for writing on a slate. -- Slate rocks (Min.), rocks which split into thin laminæ, not necessarily parallel to the stratification; foliated rocks. -- Slate spar (Min.), a variety of calcite of silvery white luster and of a slaty structure. -- Transparent slate, a plate of translucent material, as ground glass, upon which a copy of a picture, placed beneath it, can be made by tracing.

SLATE Slate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slated; p. pr. & vb. n. Slating.]

1. To cover with slate, or with a substance resembling slate; as, to slate a roof; to slate a globe.

2. To register (as on a slate and subject to revision), for an appointment. [Polit. Cant]

SLATE Slate, v. t. Etym: [Cf. AS. slæting a privilege of hunting.]

Defn: To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d Slat, 3. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [Written also slete.] Ray.

SLATE-COLOR Slate"-col`or.

Defn: A dark bluish gray color.

SLATE-GRAY Slate"-gray`, a.

Defn: Of a dark gray, like slate.

SLATER Slat"er, n.

Defn: One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate buildings.

SLATER Slat"er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any terrestrial isopod crustacean of the genus Porcellio and allied genera; a sow bug.

SLATING Slat"ing, n.

1. The act of covering with slate, slates, or a substance resembling slate; the work of a slater.

2. Slates, collectively; also, material for slating.

SLATT Slatt, n. Etym: [See Slat a strip of board.]

Defn: A slab of stone used as a veneer for coarse masonry. Knight.

SLATTER Slat"ter, v. i. Etym: [E. slat to throw or dash about.]

Defn: To be careless, negligent, or aswkward, esp. with regard to dress and neatness; to be wasteful. Ray.

SLATTERN Slat"tern, n.

Defn: A woman who is negligent of her dress or house; one who is not neat and nice.

SLATTERN Slat"tern, a.

Defn: Resembling a slattern; sluttish; slatterny. "The slattern air." Gay.

SLATTERN Slat"tern, v. t.

Defn: To consume carelessly or wastefully; to waste; -- with away. [R.] Chesterfield.

SLATTERNLINESS Slat"tern*li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slatternly; slovenliness; untidiness.

SLATTERNLY Slat"tern*ly, a.

Defn: Resembling a slattern; sluttish; negligent; dirty. -- adv.

Defn: In a slatternly manner.

SLATTERPOUCH Slat"ter*pouch`, n.

Defn: A dance or game played by boys, requiring active exercise. [Obs.] Gayton.

SLATTING Slat"ting,

Defn: Slats, collectively.

SLATTING Slat"ting, n.

Defn: The violent shaking or flapping of anything hanging loose in the wind, as of a sail, when being hauled down.

SLATY Slat"y, a. Etym: [From Slate.]

Defn: Resembling slate; having the nature, appearance, or properties, of slate; composed of thin parallel plates, capable of being separated by splitting; as, a slaty color or texture. Slaty cleavage (Min.), cleavage, as of rocks, into thin leaves or plates, like those of slate; -- applied especially to those cases in which the planes of cleavage are not parallel to the planes of stratification. It is now believed to be caused by the compression which the strata have undergone. -- Slaty gneiss (Min.), a variety of gneiss in which the scales of mica or crystals of hornblende, which are usually minute, form thin laminæ, rendering the rock easily cleavable.

SLAUGHTER Slaugh"ter, n. Etym: [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slatr slain flesh, modified by OE. slaught, slaht, slaughter, fr. AS. sleaht a stroke, blow; both from the root of E. slay. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Onslaught.]

Defn: The act of killing. Specifically: (a) The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage. On war and mutual slaughter bent. Milton.

(b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.

Syn. -- Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.

SLAUGHTER Slaugh"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaughtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaughtering.]

1. To visit with great destruction of life; to kill; to slay in battle. Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes Savagely slaughtered. Shak.

2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.

SLAUGHTERER Slaugh"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who slaughters.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE Slaugh"ter*house`, n.

Defn: A house where beasts are butchered for the market.

SLAUGHTERMAN Slaugh"ter*man, n.; pl. Slaughtermen (.

Defn: One employed in slaughtering. Shak.

SLAUGHTEROUS Slaugh"ter*ous, a.

Defn: Destructive; murderous. Shak. M. Arnold. -- Slaugh"ter*ous*ly, adv.

SLAV Slav, n.;pl. Slavs. Etym: [A word originally meaning, intelligible, and used to contrast the people so called with foreigners who spoke languages unintelligible to the Slavs; akin to OSlav. slovo a word, slava fame, Skr. çru to hear. Cf. Loud.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: One of a race of people occupying a large part of Eastern and Northern Europe, including the Russians, Bulgarians, Roumanians, Servo-Croats, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Wends or Sorbs, Slovaks, etc. [Written also Slave, and Sclav.]

SLAVE Slave, n.

Defn: See Slav.

SLAVE Slave, n. Etym: [Cf. F. esclave, D. slaaf, Dan. slave, sclave, Sw. slaf, all fr. G. sklave, MHG. also slave, from the national name of the Slavonians, or Sclavonians (in LL. Slavi or Sclavi), who were frequently made slaves by the Germans. See Slav.]

1. A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another. thou our slave, Our captive, at the public mill our drudge Milton.

2. One who has lost the power of resistance; one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.

3. A drudge; one who labors like a slave.

4. An abject person; a wretch. Shak. Slave ant (Zoöl.), any species of ants which is captured and enslaved by another species, especially Formica fusca of Europe and America, which is commonly enslaved by Formica sanguinea. -- Slave catcher, one who attempted to catch and bring back a fugitive slave to his master. -- Slave coast, part of the western coast of Africa to which slaves were brought to be sold to foreigners. -- Slave driver, one who superintends slaves at their work; hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster. -- Slave hunt. (a) A search after persons in order to reduce them to slavery. Barth. (b) A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with bloodhounds. -- Slave ship, a vessel employed in the slave trade or used for transporting slaves; a slaver. -- Slave trade, the busines of dealing in slaves, especially of buying them for transportation from their homes to be sold elsewhere. -- Slave trader, one who traffics in slaves.

Syn. -- Bond servant; bondman; bondslave; captive; henchman; vassal; dependent; drudge. See Serf.

SLAVE Slave, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaving.]

Defn: To drudge; to toil; to labor as a slave.

SLAVE Slave, v. t.

Defn: To enslave. Marston.

SLAVEBORN Slave"born`, a.

Defn: Born in slavery.

SLAVEHOLDER Slave"hold`er, n.

Defn: One who holds slaves.

SLAVEHOLDING Slave"hold`ing, a.

Defn: Holding persons in slavery.

SLAVEOCRACY Slave*oc"ra*cy, n.

Defn: See Slavocracy.

SLAVER Slav"er, n.

1. A vessel engaged in the slave trade; a slave ship.

2. A person engaged in the purchase and sale of slaves; a slave merchant, or slave trader. The slaver's hand was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. Longfellow.

SLAVER Slav"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Slavering.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. slafra. See Slabber.]

1. To suffer spittle, etc., to run from the mouth.

2. To be besmeared with saliva. Shak.

SLAVER Slav"er, v. t.

Defn: To smear with saliva issuing from the mouth; to defile with drivel; to slabber.

SLAVER Slav"er, n.

Defn: Saliva driveling from the mouth. Of all mad creatures, if the learned are right, It is the slaver kills, and not the bite. Pope.

SLAVERER Slav"er*er, n.

Defn: A driveler; an idiot.

SLAVERING Slav"er*ing, a.

Defn: Drooling; defiling with saliva. -- Slav"er*ing*ly, adv.

SLAVERY Slav"er*y, n.; pl. Slaveries. Etym: [See 2d Slave.]

1. The condition of a slave; the state of entire subjection of one person to the will of another. Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, said I, still thou art a bitter draught! Sterne. I wish, from my soul, that the legislature of this state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief. Washington.

2. A condition of subjection or submission characterized by lack of freedom of action or of will. The vulgar slaveries rich men submit to. C. Lever. There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish, -- the slavery of caste. G. W. Cable.

3. The holding of slaves.

Syn. -- Bondage; servitude; inthrallment; enslavement; captivity; bond service; vassalage.

SLAVEY Slav"ey, n.

Defn: A maidservant. [Colloq. & Jocose Eng.]

SLAVIC Slav"ic, a.

Defn: Slavonic. -- n.

Defn: The group of allied languages spoken by the Slavs.

SLAVISH Slav"ish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to slaves; such as becomes or befits a slave; servile; excessively laborious; as, a slavish life; a slavish dependance on the great. -- Slav"ish*ly, adv. -- Slav"ish*ness, n.

SLAVISM Slav"ism, n.

Defn: The common feeling and interest of the Slavonic race.

SLAVOCRACY Slav*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Slave + -cracy, as in democracy.]

Defn: The persons or interest formerly representing slavery politically, or wielding political power for the preservation or advancement of slavery. [U. S.]

SLAVONIAN; SLAVONIC Sla*vo"ni*an, Sla*von"ic, a.

1. Of or pertaining to Slavonia, or its inhabitants.

2. Of or pertaining to the Slavs, or their language.

SLAVONIAN Sla*vo"ni*an, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Slavonia; ethnologically, a Slav.

SLAVOPHIL; SLAVOPHILE Slav"o*phil, Slav"o*phile, n. Etym: [Slavic + Gr.

Defn: One, not being a Slav, who is interested in the development and prosperity of that race.

SLAW Slaw, n. Etym: [D. sla, contr. fr. salade, OD. salaet, salad. See Salad.]

Defn: Sliced cabbage served as a salad, cooked or uncooked.

SLAW; SLAWEN Slaw, Slaw"en, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Slee, to slay. With a sword drawn out he would have slaw himself. Wyclif (Acts xvi. 27.)

SLAY Slay, v. t. [imp. Slew; p. p. Slain; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaying.] Etym: [OE. slan, sl, sleen, slee, AS. sleán to strike, beat, slay; akin to OFries. sla, D. slaan, OS. & OHG. slahan, G. schlagen, Icel. sla, Dan. slaae, Sw. sl, Goth. slahan; perhaps akin to L. lacerare to tear to pieces, Gr. lacerate. Cf. Slaughter, Sledge a hammer, Sley.]

Defn: To put to death with a weapon, or by violence; hence, to kill; to put an end to; to destroy. With this sword then will I slay you both. Chaucer. I will slay the last of them with the sword. Amos ix. 1. I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk. Shak.

Syn. -- To kill; murder; slaughter; butcher.

SLAYER Slay"er, n.

Defn: One who slays; a killer; a murderer; a destrroyer of life.

SLAZY Sla"zy, a.

Defn: See Sleazy.

SLE Sle, v. t.

Defn: To slay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEAVE Sleave, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. slöif, a knot loop, Sw. slejf, G. schleife a knot, silding knot, and E. slip, v.i.] (a) The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread. (b) Silk not yet twisted; floss; -- called also sleave silk. Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care. Shak.

SLEAVE Sleave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleaving.]

Defn: To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley; -- a weaver's term.

SLEAVED Sleaved, a.

Defn: Raw; not spun or wrought; as, sleaved thread or silk. Holinshed.

SLEAZINESS Slea"zi*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being sleazy.

SLEAZY Slea"zy, a. Etym: [Cf. G. schleissig worn out, threadbare, from schleissen to slit, split, decay, or E. leasy.]

Defn: Wanting firmness of texture or substance; thin; flimsy; as, sleazy silk or muslin. [Spelt also slazy.]

SLED Sled, n. Etym: [Akin to D. slede, G. schlitten, OHG. slito, Icel. sle, Sw. släde, Dan. sl, and E. slide, v. See Slide, and cf. Sledge a vehicle, Sleigh.]

1. A vehicle on runners, used for conveying loads over the snow or ice; -- in England called sledge.

2. A small, light vehicle with runners, used, mostly by young persons, for sliding on snow or ice.

SLED Sled, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sledded; p. pr. & vb. n. Sledding.]

Defn: To convey or transport on a sled; as, to sled wood or timber.

SLEDDING Sled"ding, n.

1. The act of transporting or riding on a sled.

2. The state of the snow which admits of the running of sleds; as, the sledding is good.

SLEDGE Sledge, n. Etym: [Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n.]

1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow, ice, or bare ground; a sled.

2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [Eng.] Sir W. Scott.

3. A sleigh. [Eng.]

4. A game at cards; -- called also old sledge, and all fours.

SLEDGE Sledge, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Sledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Sledging.]

Defn: To travel or convey in a sledge or sledges. Howitt.

SLEDGE Sledge, n. Etym: [AS. slecge,from sleán to strike, beat. See Slay, v. t.]

Defn: A large, heavy hammer, usually wielded with both hands; -- called also sledge hammer. With his heavy sledge he can it beat. Spenser.

SLEE Slee, v. t. Etym: [See Slay.]

Defn: To slay. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEEK Sleek, a. [Compar. Sleeker; superl. Sleekest.] Etym: [OE. slik; akin to Icel. slikr, and OE. sliken to glide, slide, G. schleichen, OHG. slihhan, D. slik, slijk, mud, slime, and E. slink. Cf. Slick, Slink.]

1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; hence, glossy; as, sleek hair. Chaucer. So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make. Dryden.

2. Not rough or harsh. Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek. Milton.

SLEEK Sleek, adv.

Defn: With ease and dexterity. [Low]

SLEEK Sleek, n.

Defn: That which makes smooth; varnish. [R.]

SLEEK Sleek, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleeked;p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeking.]

Defn: To make even and smooth; to render smooth, soft, and glossy; to smooth over. Sleeking her soft alluring locks. Milton. Gentle, my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks. Shak.

SLEEKLY Sleek"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sleek manner; smoothly.

SLEEKNESS Sleek"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sleek; smoothness and glossiness of surface.

SLEEKY Sleek"y, a.

1. Of a sleek, or smooth, and glossy appearance. Thomson.

2. Fawning and deceitful; sly. [Scot.]

SLEEP Sleep, obs.

Defn: imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer.

SLEEP Sleep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slept; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeping.] Etym: [OE. slepen, AS. sl; akin to OFries. sl, OS. slapan, D. slapen, OHG. slafan, G. schlafen, Goth. sl, and G. schlaff slack, loose, and L. labi to glide, slide, labare to totter. Cf. Lapse.]

1. To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber. Chaucer. Watching at the head of these that sleep. Milton.

2. Figuratively: (a) To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly. We sleep over our happiness. Atterbury.

(b) To be dead; to lie in the grave. Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thess. iv. 14.

(c) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as, a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps. How sweet the moonlight sleep upon this bank! Shak.

SLEEP Sleep, v. t.

1. To be slumbering in; -- followed by a cognate object; as, to sleep a dreamless sleep. Tennyson.

2. To give sleep to; to furnish with accomodations for sleeping; to lodge. [R.] Blackw. Mag. To sleep away, to spend in sleep; as, to sleep away precious time. -- To sleep off, to become free from by sleep; as, to sleep off drunkeness or fatigue.

SLEEP Sleep, n. Etym: [AS. sl; akin to OFries. sl, OS. slap, D. slaap, OHG. slaf, G. schlaf, Goth. sl. See Sleep, v. i.]

Defn: A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of sensory perception, a confusion of ideas, and a loss of mental control, followed by a more or less unconscious state. "A man that waketh of his sleep." Chaucer. O sleep, thou ape of death. Shak.

Note: Sleep is attended by a relaxation of the muscles, and the absence of voluntary activity for any rational objects or purpose. The pulse is slower, the respiratory movements fewer in number but more profound, and there is less blood in the cerebral vessels. It is susceptible of greater or less intensity or completeness in its control of the powers. Sleep of plants (Bot.), a state of plants, usually at night, when their leaflets approach each other, and the flowers close and droop, or are covered by the folded leaves.

Syn. -- Slumber; repose; rest; nap; doze; drowse.

SLEEP-AT-NOON Sleep"-at-noon", n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Tragopogon pratensis) which closes its flowers at midday; a kind of goat's beard. Dr. Prior.

SLEEP-CHARGED Sleep"-charged`, a.

Defn: Heavy with sleep.

SLEEPER Sleep"er, n.

1. One who sleeps; a slumberer; hence, a drone, or lazy person.

2. That which lies dormant, as a law. [Obs.] Bacon.

3. A sleeping car. [Colloq. U.S.]

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal that hibernates, as the bear.

5. (Zoöl.) (a) A large fresh-water gobioid fish (Eleotris dormatrix). (b) A nurse shark. See under Nurse.

SLEEPER Sleep"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Norw. sleip a sleeper (a timber), as adj., slippery, smooth. See Slape.]

Defn: Something lying in a reclining posture or position. Specifically: -- (a) One of the pieces of timber, stone, or iron, on or near the level of the ground, for the support of some superstructure, to steady framework, to keep in place the rails of a railway, etc.; a stringpiece. (b) One of the joists, or roughly shaped timbers, laid directly upon the ground, to receive the flooring of the ground story. [U.S.] (c) (Naut.) One of the knees which connect the transoms to the after timbers on the ship's quarter. (d) (Naut. ) The lowest, or bottom, tier of casks.

SLEEPFUL Sleep"ful, a.

Defn: Strongly inclined to sleep; very sleepy. -- Sleep"ful*ness, n.

SLEEPILY Sleep"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sleepy manner; drowsily.

SLEEPINESS Sleep"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sleepy.

SLEEPING Sleep"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Sleep. Sleeping car, a railway car or carrriage, arranged with apartments and berths for sleeping. -- Sleeping partner (Com.), a dormant partner. See under Dormant. -- Sleeping table (Mining), a stationary inclined platform on which pulverized ore is washed; a kind of buddle.

SLEEPISH Sleep"ish, a.

Defn: Disposed to sleep; sleepy; drowsy. Your sleepish, and more than sleepish, security. Ford.

SLEEPLESS Sleep"less, a.

1. Having no sleep; wakeful.

2. Having no rest; perpetually agitated. "Biscay's sleepless bay." Byron. -- Sleep"less*ly, adv. -- Sleep"less*ness, n.

SLEEPMARKEN Sleep"mark`en, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See 1st Hag, 4.

SLEEPWAKER Sleep"wak`er, n.

Defn: On in a state of magnetic or mesmeric sleep.

SLEEPWAKING Sleep"wak`ing, n.

Defn: The state of one mesmerized, or in a partial and morbid sleep.

SLEEPWALKER Sleep"walk`er, n.

Defn: One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist.

SLEEPWALKING Sleep"walk`ing, n.

Defn: Walking in one's sleep.

SLEEPY Sleep"y, a. [Compar. Sleepier; superl. Sleepiest.] Etym: [AS. sl. See Sleep, n.]

1. Drowsy; inclined to, or overcome by, sleep. Shak. She waked her sleepy crew. Dryden.

2. Tending to induce sleep; soporiferous; somniferous; as, a sleepy drink or potion. Chaucer.

3. Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. Shak. 'Tis not sleepy business; But must be looked to speedily and strongly. Shak.

4. Characterized by an absence of watchfulness; as, sleepy security. Sleepy duck (Zoöl.), the ruddy duck.

SLEEPYHEAD Sleep"y*head`, n.

1. A sleepy person. To bed, to bed, says Sleepyhead. Mother Goose.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ruddy duck.

SLEER Sle"er, n.

Defn: A slayer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEET Sleet, n. (Gun.)

Defn: The part of a mortar extending from the chamber to the trunnions.

SLEET Sleet, n. Etym: [OE. sleet; akin to MHG. sl, sl hailstone, G. schlosse; of uncertain origin.]

Defn: Hail or snow, mingled with rain, usually falling, or driven by the wind, in fine particles.

SLEET Sleet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeting.]

Defn: To snow or hail with a mixture of rain.

SLEETCH Sleetch, n. Etym: [Cf. Slush, Slutch.]

Defn: Mud or slime, such as that at the bottom of rivers. [Scot.]

SLEETINESS Sleet"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being sleety.

SLEETY Sleet"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to sleet; characterized by sleet; as, a sleety storm; sleety weather.

SLEEVE Sleeve, n.

Defn: See Sleave, untwisted thread.

SLEEVE Sleeve, n. Etym: [OE. sleeve, sleve, AS. sl, sl; akin to sl to put on, to clothe; cf. OD. sloove the turning up of anything, sloven to turn up one's sleeves, sleve a sleeve, G. schlaube a husk, pod.]

1. The part of a garment which covers the arm; as, the sleeve of a coat or a gown. Chaucer.

2. A narrow channel of water. [R.] The Celtic Sea, called oftentimes the Sleeve. Drayton.

3. (Mach.) (a) A tubular part made to cover, sustain, or steady another part, or to form a connection between two parts. (b) A long bushing or thimble, as in the nave of a wheel. (c) A short piece of pipe used for covering a joint, or forming a joint between the ends of two other pipes. Sleeve button, a detachable button to fasten the wristband or cuff. -- Sleeve links, two bars or buttons linked together, and used to fasten a cuff or wristband. -- To laugh in the sleeve, to laugh privately or unperceived, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at; that is, perhaps, originally, by hiding the face in the wide sleeves of former times. -- To pin, or hang, on the sleeve of, to be, or make, dependent upon.

SLEEVE Sleeve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleeved; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeving.]

Defn: To furnish with sleeves; to put sleeves into; as, to sleeve a coat.

SLEEVED Sleeved, a.

Defn: Having sleeves; furnished with sleeves; -- often in composition; as, long-sleeved.

SLEEVEFISH Sleeve"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A squid.

SLEEVEHAND Sleeve"hand`, n.

Defn: The part of a sleeve nearest the hand; a cuff or wristband. [Obs.] Shak.

SLEEVELESS Sleeve"less, a. Etym: [AS. sl.]

1. Having no sleeves.

2. Wanting a cover, pretext, or palliation; unreasonable; profitless; bootless; useless. [Obs.] Shak. The vexation of a sleeveless errand. Bp. Warburton.

SLEID Sleid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sleided; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleiding.] Etym: [See Sley.]

Defn: To sley, or prepare for use in the weaver's sley, or slaie. Shak.

SLEIGH Sleigh, a.

Defn: Sly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEIGH Sleigh, n. Etym: [Cf. D. & LG. slede, slee, Icel. sle. See Sled.]

Defn: A vehicle moved on runners, and used for transporting persons or goods on snow or ice; -- in England commonly called a sledge. Sleigh bell, a small bell attached either to a horse when drawing a slegh, or to the sleigh itself; especially a globular bell with a loose ball which plays inside instead of a clapper.

SLEIGHING Sleigh"ing, n.

1. The act of riding in a sleigh.

2. The state of the snow or ice which admits of running sleighs.

SLEIGHT Sleight, n. Etym: [OE. sleighte, sleihte, sleithe, Icel. sl (for sl) slyness, cunning, fr. sl (for sl) sly, cunning. See Sly.]

1. Cunning; craft; artful practice. [Obs.] "His sleight and his covin." Chaucer.

2. An artful trick; sly artifice; a feat so dexterous that the manner of performance escapes observation. The world hath many subtle sleights. Latimer.

3. Dexterous practice; dexterity; skill. Chaucer. "The juggler's sleight." Hudibras. Sleight of hand, legerdemain; prestidigitation.

SLEIGHTFUL Sleight"ful, a.

Defn: Cunning; dexterous. [Obs.]

SLEIGHTLY Sleight"ly, adv.

Defn: Cunningly. [Obs.] Huloet.

SLEIGHTY Sleight"y, a.

Defn: Cunning; sly. [Obs.] Huloet.

SLENDER Slen"der, a. [Compar. Slenderer; superl. Slenderest.] Etym: [OE. slendre, sclendre, fr. OD. slinder thin, slender, perhaps through a French form; cf. OD. slinderen, slidderen, to creep; perh. akin to E. slide.]

1. Small or narrow in proportion to the length or the height; not thick; slim; as, a slender stem or stalk of a plant. "A slender, choleric man." Chaucer. She, as a veil down to the slender waist, Her unadorned golden tresses wore. Milton.

2. Weak; feeble; not strong; slight; as, slender hope; a slender constitution. Mighty hearts are held in slender chains. Pope. They have inferred much from slender premises. J. H. Newman. The slender utterance of the consonants. J. Byrne.

3. Moderate; trivial; inconsiderable; slight; as, a man of slender intelligence. A slender degree of patience will enable him to enjoy both the humor and the pathos. Sir W. Scott.

4. Small; inadequate; meager; pitiful; as, slender means of support; a slender pittance. Frequent begging makes slender alms. Fuller.

5. Spare; abstemious; frugal; as, a slender diet. The good Ostorius often deigned To grace my slender table with his presence. Philips.

6. (Phon.)

Defn: Uttered with a thin tone; -- the opposite of broad; as, the slender vowels long e and i. -- Slen"der*ly, adv. -- Slen"der*ness, n.

SLENT Slent, n. & v.

Defn: See Slant. [Obs.]

SLEP Slep, obs.

Defn: imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer.

SLEPEZ Sle*pez", n. Etym: [Russ. sliepets'.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A burrowing rodent (Spalax typhlus), native of Russia and Asia Minor. It has the general appearance of a mole, and is destitute of eyes. Called also mole rat.

SLEPT Slept,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sleep.

SLEUTH Sleuth, n. Etym: [Icel. sloedh. See Slot a track.]

Defn: The track of man or beast as followed by the scent. [Scot.] Halliwell.

SLEUTHHOUND Sleuth"hound`, n. Etym: [See Sleuth, and cf. Slothound.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hound that tracks animals by the scent; specifically, a bloodhound. [Spelt variously slouthhound, sluthhound, etc.]

SLEW Slew,

Defn: imp. of Slay.

SLEW Slew, v. t.

Defn: See Slue.

SLEWED Slewed, a.

Defn: Somewhat drunk. [Slang]

SLEWTH Slewth, n.

Defn: Sloth; idleness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLEY Sley, n. Etym: [AS. sl, fr. sleán to strike. See Slay, v. t.]

1. A weaver's reed. [Spelt also slaie.]

2. A guideway in a knitting machine. Knight.

SLEY Sley, v. t.

Defn: To separate or part the threads of, and arrange them in a reed; -- a term used by weavers. See Sleave, and Sleid.

SLIBBER Slib"ber, a.

Defn: Slippery. [Obs.] Holland.

SLICE Slice, n. Etym: [OE. slice, sclice, OF. esclice, from esclicier, esclichier, to break to pieces, of German origin; cf. OHG. slizan to split, slit, tear, G. schleissen to slit. See Slit, v. t.]

1. A thin, broad piece cut off; as, a slice of bacon; a slice of cheese; a slice of bread.

2. That which is thin and broad, like a slice. Specifically: (a) A broad, thin piece of plaster. (b) A salver, platter, or tray. [Obs.] (c) A knife with a thin, broad blade for taking up or serving fish; also, a spatula for spreading anything, as paint or ink. (d) A plate of iron with a handle, forming a kind of chisel, or a spadelike implement, variously proportioned, and used for various purposes, as for stripping the planking from a vessel's side, for cutting blubber from a whale, or for stirring a fire of coals; a slice bar; a peel; a fire shovel. [Cant] (e) (Shipbuilding) One of the wedges by which the cradle and the ship are lifted clear of the building blocks to prepare for launching. (f) (Printing) A removable sliding bottom to galley. Slice bar, a kind of fire iron resembling a poker, with a broad, flat end, for stirring a fire of coals, and clearing it and the grate bars from clinkers, ashes, etc.; a slice.

SLICE Slice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sliced; p. pr. & vb. n. Slicing.]

1. To cut into thin pieces, or to cut off a thin, broad piece from.

2. To cut into parts; to divide.

3. To clear by means of a slice bar, as a fire or the grate bars of a furnace.

SLICER Sli"cer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, slices; specifically, the circular saw of the lapidary.

SLICH; SLICK Slich, Slick, n. (Metal.)

Defn: See Schlich.

SLICK Slick, a. Etym: [See Sleek.]

Defn: Sleek; smooth. "Both slick and dainty." Chapman.

SLICK Slick, v. t.

Defn: To make sleek or smoth. "Slicked all with sweet oil." Chapman.

SLICK Slick, n. (Joinery)

Defn: A wide paring chisel.

SLICKEN Slick"en, a.

Defn: Sleek; smooth. [Prov. Eng.]

SLICKENS Slick"ens, n. Etym: [Cf. Slick, n.] (Mining)

Defn: The pulverized matter from a quartz mill, or the lighter soil of hydraulic mines. [Local, U. S.]

SLICKENSIDES Slick"en*sides`, n.

1. The smooth, striated, or partially polished surfaces of a fissure or seam, supposed to have been produced by the sliding of one surface on another.

2. A variety of galena found in Derbyshire, England.

SLICKER Slick"er, n.

Defn: That which makes smooth or sleek. Specifically: (a) A kind of burnisher for leather. (b) (Founding) A curved tool for smoothing the surfaces of a mold after the withdrawal of the pattern.

SLICKER Slick"er, n.

Defn: A waterproof coat. [Western U.S.]

SLICKING Slick"ing, n.

1. The act or process of smoothing.

2. pl. (Min.)

Defn: Narrow veins of ore.

SLICKNESS Slick"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being slick; smoothness; sleekness.

SLID Slid,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Slide.

SLIDDEN Slid"den,

Defn: p. p. of Slide.

SLIDDER Slid"der, v. t. Etym: [AS. sliderian. See Slide, v. t.]

Defn: To slide with interruption. [Obs.] Dryden.

SLIDDER; SLIDDERLY; SLIDDERY Slid"der, Slid"der*ly, Slid"der*y, a. Etym: [AS. slidor. See Slide, v. t.]

Defn: Slippery. [Obs.] To a drunk man the way is slidder. Chaucer.

SLIDE Slide, v. t. [imp. Slid; p. p. Slidden, Slid; p. pr. & vb. n. Slidding.] Etym: [OE. sliden, AS. slidan; akin to MHG. sliten, also to AS. slidor slippery, E. sled, Lith. slidus slippery. Cf. Sled.]

1. To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.

2. Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet. They bathe in summer, and in winter slide. Waller.

3. To pass inadvertently. Beware thou slide not by it. Ecclus. xxviii. 26.

4. To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water. Ages shall slide away without perceiving. Dryden. Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole. Pope.

5. To slip when walking or standing; to fall. Their foot shall slide in due time. Deut. xxxii. 35.

6. (Mus.)

Defn: To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.

7. To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence. [Obs. or Colloq.] With good hope let he sorrow slide. Chaucer. With a calm carelessness letting everything slide. Sir P. Sidney.

SLIDE Slide, v. t.

1. To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.

2. To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.

SLIDE Slide, n. Etym: [AS. slide.]

1. The act of sliding; as, a slide on the ice.

2. Smooth, even passage or progress. A better slide into their business. Bacon.

3. That on which anything moves by sliding. Specifically: (a) An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, esp. one constructed on a mountain side for conveying logs by sliding them down. (b) A surface of ice or snow on which children slide for amusement.

4. That which operates by sliding. Specifically: (a) A cover which opens or closes an aperture by sliding over it. (b) (Mach.) A moving piece which is guided by a part or parts along which it slides. (c) A clasp or brooch for a belt, or the like.

5. A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.

6. The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.

7. (Geol.)

Defn: A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure. Dana.

8. (Mus.) (a) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below. (b) An apparatus in the trumpet and trombone by which the sounding tube is lengthened and shortened so as to produce the tones between the fundamental and its harmonics.

9. (Phonetics)

Defn: A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.

10. (Steam Engine) (a) Same as Guide bar, under Guide. (b) A slide valve. Slide box (Steam Engine), a steam chest. See under Steam. -- Slide lathe, an engine lathe. See under Lathe. -- Slide rail, a transfer table. See under Transfer. -- Slide rest (Turning lathes), a contrivance for holding, moving, and guiding, the cutting tool, made to slide on ways or guides by screws or otherwise, and having compound motion. -- Slide rule, a mathematical instrument consisting of two parts, one of which slides upon the other, for the mechanical performance of addition and subtraction, and, by means of logarithmic scales, of multiplication and division. -- Slide valve. (a) Any valve which opens and closes a passageway by sliding over a port. (b) A particular kind of sliding valve, often used in steam engines for admitting steam to the piston and releasing it, alternately, having a cuplike cavity in its face, through which the exhaust steam passes. It is situated in the steam chest, and moved by the valve gear. It is sometimes called a D valve, -- a name which is also applied to a semicylindrical pipe used as a sliding valve. In the illustration, a is the cylinder of a steam engine, in which plays the piston p; b the steam chest, receiving its supply from the pipe i, and containing the slide valve s, which is shown as admitting steam to one end of the cylinder through the port e, and opening communication between the exhaust passage f and the port c, for the release of steam from the opposite end of the cylinder.

SLIDEGROAT Slide"groat, n.

Defn: The game of shovelboard. [Obs.]

SLIDER Slid"er, a.

Defn: See Slidder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SLIDER Slid"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, slides; especially, a sliding part of an instrument or machine.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa). [Local, U. S. ] Slider pump, a form of rotary pump.

SLIDEWAY Slide"way`, n.

Defn: A way along which something slides.

SLIDING Slid"ing, a.

1. That slides or slips; gliding; moving smoothly.

2. Slippery; elusory. [Obs.] That sliding science hath me made so bare. Chaucer. Sliding friction (Mech.), the resistance one body meets with in sliding along the surface of another, as distinguished from rolling friction. -- Sliding gunter (Naut.), a topmast arranged with metallic fittings so as to be hoisted and lowered by means of halyards. -- Sliding keel (Naut), a movable keel, similar to a centeboard. -- Sliding pair. (Mech.) See the Note under Pair, n., 7. -- Sliding rule. Same as Slide rule, under Slide, n. -- Sliding scale. (a) A scale for raising or lowering imposts in proportion to the fall or rise of prices. (b) A variable scale of wages or of prices. (c) A slide rule. -- Sliding ways (Naut.), the timber guides used in launching a vessel.

SLIDOMETER Sli*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Slide + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for indicating and recording shocks to railway cars occasioned by sudden stopping.

SLIGHT Slight, n.

Defn: Sleight. Spenser.

SLIGHT Slight, v. t. Etym: [Cf. D. slechten to level, to demolish.]

1. To overthrow; to demolish. [Obs.] Clarendon.

2. To make even or level. [Obs.] Hexham.

3. To throw heedlessly. [Obs.] The rogue slighted me into the river. Shak.

SLIGHT Slight, a. [Compar. Slighter; superl. Slightest.] Etym: [OE. sli, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. sl smooth, Sw. slät, Goth. slaíhts; or uncertain origin.]

1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe; weak; gentle; -- applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable) structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain, and the like. "At one slight bound." Milton. Slight is the subject, but not so the praise. Pope. Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. Locke.

2. Not stout or heavy; slender. His own figure, which was formerly so slight. Sir W. Scott.

3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras.

SLIGHT Slight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slighting.]

Defn: To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. Milton. The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies. Cowper. To slight off, to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. [R.] -- To slight over, to run over in haste; to perform superficially; to treat carelessly; as, to slight over a theme. "They will but slight it over." Bacon.

Syn. -- To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. -- Slight, Neglect. To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsiderateness, or from being over- occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer. Beware . . . lest the like befall . . . If they transgress and slight that sole command. Milton. This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton.

SLIGHT Slight, n.

Defn: The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity.

Syn. -- Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement.

SLIGHT Slight, adv.

Defn: Slightly. [Obs. or Poetic] Think not so slight of glory. Milton.

SLIGHTEN Slight"en, v. t.

Defn: To slight. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SLIGHTER Slight"er, n.

Defn: One who slights.

SLIGHTFUL Slight"ful, a.

Defn: See Sleightful. [Obs.]

SLIGHTING Slight"ing, a.

Defn: Characterized by neglect or disregard.

SLIGHTINGLY Slight"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slighting manner.

SLIGHTLY Slight"ly, adv.

1. In a slight manner.

2. Slightingly; negligently. [Obs.] Shak.

SLIGHTNESS Slight"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slight; slenderness; feebleness; superficiality; also, formerly, negligence; indifference; disregard.

SLIGHTY Slight"y, a.

Defn: Slight. [Obs.] Echard.

SLIK Slik, a. Etym: [See Such.]

Defn: Such. [Obs. or Scot.]

Note: Used by Chaucer as of the Northern dialect.

SLIKENSIDES Slik"en*sides`, n.

Defn: Same as Slickensides.

SLILY Sli"ly, adv.

Defn: See Slyly. South.

SLIM Slim, a. [Compar. Slimmer; superl. Slimmest.] Etym: [Formerly, bad, worthless, weak, slight, awry, fr. D. slim; akin to G. schlimm, MHG. slimp oblique, awry; of uncertain origin. The meaning of the English word seems to have been influenced by slender.]

1. Worthless; bad. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. Weak; slight; unsubstantial; poor; as, a slim argument. "That was a slim excuse." Barrow.

3. Of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length; slender; as, a slim person; a slim tree. Grose.

SLIME Slime, n. Etym: [OE. slim, AS. slim; akin to D. slijm, G. schleim, MHG. slimen to make smooth, Icel. slim slime, Dan. sliim; cf. L. limare to file, polish, levis smooth, Gr. limus mud.]

1. Soft, moist earth or clay, having an adhesive quality; viscous mud. As it [Nilus] ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain. Shak.

2. Any mucilaginous substance; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive.

3. (Script.)

Defn: Bitumen. [Archaic] Slime had they for mortar. Gen. xi. 3.

4. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the preparatory dressing. Pryce.

5. (Physiol.)

Defn: A mucuslike substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals. Goldsmith. Slime eel. (Zoöl.) See 1st Hag, 4. -- Slime pit, a pit for the collection of slime or bitumen.

SLIME Slime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sliming.]

Defn: To smear with slime. Tennyson.

SLIMILY Slim"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slimy manner.

SLIMINESS Slim"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slimy.

SLIMLY Slim"ly, adv.

Defn: In a state of slimness; in a slim manner; slenderly.

SLIMNESS Slim"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being slim.

SLIMSY Slim"sy, a.

Defn: Flimsy; frail. [Colloq. U.S.]

SLIMY Slim"y, a. [Compar. Slimier; superl. Slimiest.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to slime; resembling slime; of the nature of slime; viscous; glutinous; also, covered or daubed with slime; yielding, or abounding in, slime. Slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea. Coleridge.

SLINESS Sli"ness, n.

Defn: See Slyness.

SLING Sling, n. Etym: [OE. slinge; akin to OD. slinge, D. slinger, OHG. slinga; cf. OF. eslingue, of German origin. See Sling, v. t.]

1. An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other. The missile being lodged in a hole in the strap, the ends of the string are taken in the hand, and the whole whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.

2. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Shak. At one sling Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son. Milton.

3. A contrivance for sustaining anything by suspension; as: (a) A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported. (b) A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering. (c) A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder. (d) (Naut.) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; -- chiefly in the plural. Sling cart, a kind of cart used to transport cannon and their carriages, large stones, machines, etc., the objects transported being slung, or suspended by a chain attached to the axletree. -- Sling dog, one of a pair of iron hooks used as part of a sling. See def. 3 (b) above.

SLING Sling, v. t. [imp. Slung, Archaic Slang (; p. p. Slung; p. pr. & vb. n. Slinging.] Etym: [AS. slingan; akin to D. slingeren, G. schlingen, to wind, to twist, to creep, OHG. slingan to wind, to twist, to move to and fro, Icel. slyngva, slöngva, to sling, Sw. slunga, Dan. slynge, Lith. slinkti to creep.]

1. To throw with a sling. "Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss." Judg. xx. 16.

2. To throw; to hurl; to cast. Addison.

3. To hang so as to swing; as, to sling a pack.

4. (Naut)

Defn: To pass a rope round, as a cask, gun, etc., preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.

SLING Sling, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schlingen to swallow.]

Defn: A drink composed of spirit (usually gin) and water sweetened. sling.

SLINGER Sling"er, n.

Defn: One who slings, or uses a sling.

SLINK Slink, v. t. [imp. Slunk, Archaic Slank (; p. p. Slunk; p. pr. & vb. n. Slinking.] Etym: [AS. slincan; probably akin to G. schleichen, E. sleek. See Sleek, a.]

1. To creep away meanly; to steal away; to sneak. "To slink away and hide." Tale of Beryn. Back to the thicket slunk The guilty serpent. Milton. There were some few who slank obliquely from them as they passed. Landor.

2. To miscarry; -- said of female beasts.

SLINK Slink, v. t.

Defn: To cast prematurely; -- said of female beasts; as, a cow that slinks her calf.

SLINK Slink, a.

1. Produced prematurely; as, a slink calf.

2. Thin; lean. [Scot.]

SLINK Slink, n.

1. The young of a beast brought forth prematurely, esp. a calf brought forth before its time.

2. A thievish fellow; a sneak. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SLINKY Slink"y, a.

Defn: Thin; lank. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.]

SLIP Slip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Slipping.] Etym: [OE. slippen; akin to LG. & D. slippen, MHG. slipfen (cf. Dan. slippe, Sw. slippa, Icel. sleppa), and fr. OE. slipen, AS. slipan (in comp.), akin to G. schleifen to slide, glide, drag, whet, OHG. slifan to slide, glide, make smooth, Icel. slipa to whet; cf. also AS. sl, Goth. sliupan, OS. slopian, OHG. sliofan, G. schliefen, schl, which seem to come from a somewhat different root form. Cf. Slope, n.]

1. To move along the surface of a thing without bounding, rolling, or stepping; to slide; to glide.

2. To slide; to lose one's footing or one's hold; not to tread firmly; as, it is necessary to walk carefully lest the foot should slip.

3. To move or fly (out of place); to shoot; -- often with out, off, etc.; as, a bone may slip out of its place.

4. To depart, withdraw, enter, appear, intrude, or escape as if by sliding; to go or come in a quiet, furtive manner; as, some errors slipped into the work. Thus one tradesman slips away, To give his partner fairer play. Prior. Thrice the flitting shadow slipped away. Dryden.

5. To err; to fall into error or fault. There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart. Ecclus. xix. 16. To let slip, to loose from the slip or noose, as a hound; to allow to escape. Cry, "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war. Shak.

SLIP Slip, v. t.

1. To cause to move smoothly and quickly; to slide; to convey gently or secretly. He tried to slip a powder into her drink. Arbuthnot.

2. To omit; to loose by negligence. And slip no advantage That my secure you. B. Jonson.

3. To cut slips from; to cut; to take off; to make a slip or slips of; as, to slip a piece of cloth or paper. The branches also may be slipped and planted. Mortimer.

4. To let loose in pursuit of game, as a greyhound. Lucento slipped me like his greyhound. Shak.

5. To cause to slip or slide off, or out of place; as, a horse slips his bridle; a dog slips his collar.

6. To bring forth (young) prematurely; to slink. To slip a cable. (Naut.) See under Cable. -- To slip off, to take off quickly; as, to slip off a coat. -- To slip on, to put on in haste or loosely; as, to slip on a gown or coat.

SLIP Slip, n. Etym: [AS. slipe, slip.]

1. The act of slipping; as, a slip on the ice.

2. An unintentional error or fault; a false step. This good man's slip mended his pace to martyrdom. Fuller.

3. A twig separated from the main stock; a cutting; a scion; hence, a descendant; as, a slip from a vine. A native slip to us from foreign seeds. Shak. The girlish slip of a Sicilian bride. R. Browning.

4. A slender piece; a strip; as, a slip of paper. Moonlit slips of silver cloud. Tennyson. A thin slip of a girl, like a new moon Sure to be rounded into beauty soon. Longfellow.

5. A leash or string by which a dog is held; -- so called from its being made in such a manner as to slip, or become loose, by relaxation of the hand. We stalked over the extensive plains with Killbuck and Lena in the slips, in search of deer. Sir S. Baker.

6. An escape; a secret or unexpected desertion; as, to give one the slip. Shak.

7. (Print.)

Defn: A portion of the columns of a newspaper or other work struck off by itself; a proof from a column of type when set up and in the galley.

8. Any covering easily slipped on. Specifically: (a) A loose garment worn by a woman. (b) A child's pinafore. (c) An outside covering or case; as, a pillow slip. (d) The slip or sheath of a sword, and the like. [R.]

9. A counterfeit piece of money, being brass covered with silver. [Obs.] Shak

10. Matter found in troughs of grindstones after the grinding of edge tools. [Prov. Eng.] Sir W. Petty.

11. Potter's clay in a very liquid state, used for the decoration of ceramic ware, and also as a cement for handless and other applied parts.

12. A particular quantity of yarn. [Prov. Eng.]

13. An inclined plane on which a vessel is built, or upon which it is hauled for repair.

14. An opening or space for vessels to lie in, between wharves or in a dock; as, Peck slip. [U. S.]

15. A narrow passage between buildings. [Eng.]

16. A long seat or narrow pew in churches, often without a door. [U. S.]

17. (Mining.)

Defn: A dislocation of a lead, destroying continuity. Knight.

18. (Engin.)

Defn: The motion of the center of resistance of the float of a paddle wheel, or the blade of an oar, through the water horozontally, or the difference between a vessel's actual speed and the speed which she would have if the propelling instrument acted upon a solid; also, the velocity, relatively to still water, of the backward current of water produced by the propeller.

19. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish, the sole.

20. (Cricket)

Defn: A fielder stationed on the off side and to the rear of the batsman. There are usually two of them, called respectively short slip, and long slip. To give one the slip, to slip away from one; to elude one. -- Slip dock. See under Dock. -- Slip link (Mach.), a connecting link so arranged as to allow some play of the parts, to avoid concussion. -- Slip rope (Naut.), a rope by which a cable is secured preparatory to slipping. Totten. -- Slip stopper (Naut.), an arrangement for letting go the anchor suddenly.

SLIPBOARD Slip"board`, n.

Defn: A board sliding in grooves.

SLIPCOAT CHEESE Slip"coat` cheese".

Defn: A rich variety of new cheese, resembling butter, but white. Halliwell.

SLIPES Slipes, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Slip, v.]

Defn: Sledge runners on which a skip is dragged in a mine.

SLIPKNOT Slip"knot`, n.

Defn: knot which slips along the rope or line around which it is made.

SLIP-ON Slip"-on`, n.

Defn: A kind of overcoat worn upon the shoulders in the manner of a cloak. [Scot.]

SLIPPAGE Slip"page, n.

Defn: The act of slipping; also, the amount of slipping.

SLIPPER Slip"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, slips.

2. A kind of light shoe, which may be slipped on with ease, and worn in undress; a slipshoe.

3. A kind of apron or pinafore for children.

4. A kind of brake or shoe for a wagon wheel.

5. (Mach.)

Defn: A piece, usually a plate, applied to a sliding piece, to receive wear and afford a means of adjustment; -- also called shoe, and gib. Slipper animalcule (Zoöl.), a ciliated infusorian of the genus Paramecium. -- Slipper flower.(Bot.) Slipperwort. -- Slipper limpet, or Slipper shell (Zoöl.), a boat shell.

SLIPPER Slip"per, a. Etym: [AS. slipur.]

Defn: Slippery. [Obs.] O! trustless state of earthly things, and slipper hope Of mortal men. Spenser.

SLIPPERED Slip"pered, a.

Defn: Wearing slippers. Shak.

SLIPPERILY Slip"per*i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a slippery manner.

SLIPPERINESS Slip"per*i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being slippery.

SLIPPERNESS Slip"per*ness, n.