SLEWED, drunk, or intoxicated.—Sea term. When a vessel changes the tack she, as it were, staggers, the sails flap, she gradually heels over, and the wind catching the waiting canvas, she glides off at another angle. The course pursued by an intoxicated, or SLEWED man, is supposed to be analogous
to that of the ship.
SLICK, an Americanism, very prevalent in England since the publication of Judge Haliburton’s facetious stories. As an adjective, SLICK means rapidly, effectually, utterly; as a verb, it has the force of “to despatch rapidly,” turn off, get done with a thing.
SLICK A DEE, a pocket book.
SLING, to pass from one person to another.
SLIP, “to give the SLIP,” to run away, or elude pursuit. Shakespere has “you gave me the counterfeit,” in Romeo and Juliet. Giving the slip, however, is a Sea phrase, and refers to fastening an anchor and chain cable to a floating buoy, or water cask, until such a time arrives that is convenient to return and take them on board. In fastening the cable, the home end is slipped through the hawse pipe. Weighing anchor is a noisy task, so that giving it the SLIP infers to leave it in quietness.
SLIP, or LET SLIP; “to SLIP into a man,” to give him a sound beating; “to LET SLIP at a cove,” to rush violently upon him, and assault with vigour.
SLOG, or SLOGGER (its original form), to beat, baste, or wallop. German, SCHLAGEN; or, perhaps a vulgar corruption of SLAUGHTER. The pretended Greek derivation from σλογω, which Punch puts in the mouth of the schoolboy, in his impression of 4th May, 1859, is of course only intended to mystify grandmamma, there being no such word in the language.
SLOGGERS, i.e., SLOW-GOERS, the second division of race-boats at Cambridge. At Oxford they are called TORPIDS.—Univ.
SLOGGING, a good beating.