1883. Greenwood, Odd People. Unwashed, and in their working slacks and guernseys.
2. (pugilistic).—A smashing or knock-down blow. [Jack Slack, champion 1750-60, was known for his powerful delivery]. Also Slack-'un: cf. auctioneer and mendoza.
3. (colloquial).—A slack time.
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., iii. 237. When there is a slack the merchants are all anxious to get their vessels delivered as fast as they can.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ii. xxi. Though there's a slack we haven't done with sharp work yet, I see.
Verb. (common).—To piss (q.v.): also to slack off.
To hold on the slack, verb. phr. (nautical).—To skulk; to loaf.
Slack-jaw, subs. phr. (American).—Impertinence.
1883. Century Mag., xxxvii. 407. I mought do it fur you, bein' as how ye got so much slack-jaw.
Slag, subs. (old).—'A slack-*mettled
fellow, one not ready to
resent an affront' (Grose).
Slake, verb. (provincial).—See
quot.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, &c., s.v. Slake . . . 3. To lick . . . vulgarly used in the sense . . . of to kiss.
Slam, subs. (old).—1. A trick
(Grose).
2. (cards').—At whist a game lost without scoring: also as verb. = to take every trick: cf. skunk (B. E. and Grose).
[?]. Loyal Songs [Ency. Dict.]. Until a noble general came And gave the cheaters a clean slam.
3. (old).—A sloven: also slamkin (Grose: 'One whose clothes seem hung on with a pitchfork'); and (4) any ill-made, awkward, ungainly wretch.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, v. 6. Hoyd. I don't like my lord's shapes, nurse. Nurse. Why in good truly, as a body may say, he is but a slam.
Verb. (common).—1. To brag; spec. (military) to feign drunkenness and boast of many drinks: cf. slum.
2. (strollers').—To patter (q.v.); to talk in the way of trade.
1884. Henley, Villon's Good Night. You swatchel coves that pitch and slam.
Slam-bang. See Slap, adv.
Slamkin (Slammocks, or Slammerkin),
subs. (old).—A slut
(q.v.). As verb. = to slouch.
Slammer, subs. (colloquial).—Anything
exceptional: see
Whopper. Hence slamming
(adj.) = large, exceptional.
Slampam (Slampaine, Slampambes,
or Slampant), subs.
(old).—A blow: see Wipe. To
cut of (or give the) slampambes
= to circumvent; to get
the better of.
c.1563. New Custome [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), i. 230]. I wyll cut him of the slampambes, I hold him a crowne, Wherever I meete him, in countrie or towne.
1577-87. Holinshed, Desc. Ireland, iii. That one rascal in such scornefull wise should giue them the slampaine.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneid [Arber], 116. Shal hee scape thus? shal a stranger geue me the slampan?
Slamtrash, subs. (provincial).—A
sloven (Halliwell).
Slaney, subs. (thieves').—A
theatre.
