A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

slather (v.) --- spread liberally, 1866 (in Mark Twain), from a noun meaning "large amount" (usually as plural, slathers), first attested 1857; a dialectal word of uncertain origin, perhaps from Ir. sliotar.

slattern --- 1639, "a rude, ill-bred woman," probably related to Low Ger. Slattje, Du. slodder, dialectal Sw. slata "slut" (in the older, non-sexual sense). Cf. dial. Eng. verb slatter "to spill or splash awkwardly, to waste," used of women or girls considered untidy or slovenly.

slaughter --- c.1300, "killing of a cattle or sheep for food, killing of a person," from O.N. *slahtr, akin to slatr "a butchering, butcher meat," slatra "to slaughter," and slattr "a mowing;" related to sla "to strike" (see slay), from P.Gmc. *slukhtis. Meaning "killing of a large number of persons in battle" is attested from 1338. The verb is from 1535. Slaughter-house is from c.1374.

Slav --- 1387, Sclave, from M.L. Sclavus (c.800), from Byzantine Gk. Sklabos (c.580), from O.Slav. Sloveninu "a Slav," probably related to slovo "word, speech," which suggests the name originally meant member of a speech community (cf. O.C.S. Nemici "Germans," related to nemu "dumb;" and cf. O.E. þeode, which meant both "race" and "language"). Identical with the -slav in personal names (e.g. Rus. Miroslav, lit. "peaceful fame;" Mstislav, lit. "vengeful fame;" Jaroslav, lit. "famed for fury;" Czech Bohuslav, lit. "God's glory;" and cf. Wenceslas). Spelled Slave c.1788-1866, infl. by Fr. and Ger. Slave. Adj. Slavic is attested from 1813; earlier Slavonic (c.1645), from Slavonia, a region of Croatia.

Slave --- Indian tribe of northwestern Canada, 1789, from slave, translating Cree (Algonquian) awahkan "captive, slave."

slave (n.) --- c.1290, "person who is the property of another," from O.Fr. esclave, from M.L. Sclavus "slave" (cf. It. schiavo, Fr. esclave, Sp. esclavo), originally "Slav" (see Slav), so called because of the many Slavs sold into slavery by conquering peoples.

slave (v.) --- 1602, "to enslave," from slave (n.). The meaning "work like a slave" is first recorded 1719.

slaver --- c.1325, from O.N. slafra "to slaver," probably imitative (see slobber).

slaw --- sliced cabbage, 1794, from Du. sla, short for salade, from Fr. salade (see salad).

slay --- O.E. slean "to smite," also "to kill with a weapon" (class VI strong verb; past tense sloh, slog, pp. slagen), from P.Gmc. *slakhanan, from base *slog- "to hit" (cf. O.N., O.Fris. sla, Dan. slaa, M.Du. slaen, Du. slaan, O.H.G. slahan, Ger. schlagen, Goth. slahan "to strike"), from PIE base from base *slak- "to strike" (cf. M.Ir. pp. slactha "struck," slacc "sword"). Modern Ger. cognate schlagen maintains the original sense of "to strike." Meaning "overwhelm with delight" (1340) preserves some of the wider rangeof meanings that the word once had, including also "to strike a spark" (O.E.).

sleazy --- 1644, "hairy, fuzzy," later "flimsy, unsubstantial" (1670), of unknown origin; one theory traces it somehow to Silesian "of the eastern German province of Silesia" (Ger. Schleisen), where fine linen or cotton fabric was made (Silesia in ref. to cloth is attested in Eng. from 1674; and Sleazy as an abbreviated form is attested from 1670, but OED is against this). Sense of "sordid" is from 1941; sleaze (n.) "condition of squalor" is a 1967 back-formation; meaning "person of low moral standards," and the adj. form, are attested from 1976.

sled --- 1388, "a sledge used for transport of heavy goods," from M.Du. sledde "sled," from P.Gmc. *slido (cf. O.S. slido, O.N. sleði, Dan. slæde, Swed. släde, O.H.G. slito, Ger. Schlitten "sledge"), from the same root as O.E. slidan (see slide). In ref. to a sledge used for travel or recreation, it is attested from 1586, now mainly Amer.Eng. The verb meaning "ride on a sled" is first attested 1780.

sledge (1) --- heavy hammer, O.E. slecg, from P.Gmc. *slagj- (cf. O.N. sleggja, M.Swed. sleggia "sledgehammer"), related to slean "to strike" (see slay). Sledgehammer, first attested 1495, is pleonastic.

sledge (2) --- sleigh, 1617, from dialectal Du. sleedse, variant of slede (see sled); said to be of Frisian origin.

sleek (adj.) --- 1589, variant of M.E. slike (see slick). Originally of healthy-looking animal hair; applied to persons 1637, with sense of "plump and smooth-skinned."

sleep (n.) --- O.E. slæp from the root of sleep (v.) (cf. cognate O.S. slap, O.Fris. slep, M.Du. slæp, Du. slaap, O.H.G. slaf, Ger. Schlaf, Goth. sleps). Personified as L. Somnus, Gk. Hypnos (see somnolence). Fig. use for "repose of death" was in O.E.; to put (an animal) to sleep "kill painlessly" is recorded from 1942. Sleep-walker "somnambulist" is attested from 1747. To be able to do something in (one's) sleep "easily" is recorded from 1953.

sleep (v.) --- O.E. slæpan "to sleep" (class VII strong verb; past tense slep, pp. slæpen), from W.Gmc. *slæpanan (cf. O.S. slapan, O.Fris. slepa, M.Du. slapen, Du. slapen, O.H.G. slafen, Ger. schlafen, Goth. slepan "to sleep"), from PIE base *sleb- "to be weak, sleep" (cf. O.C.S. slabu, Lith. silpnas "weak"), which is perhaps connected to the root of slack (adj.). Sleep with "do the sex act with" is in O.E.

sleeper --- c.1225, "one who sleeps, one who is inclined to sleep much," agent noun of sleep (v.). Meaning "railroad sleeping car" is from 1875. Sense of "something whose importance proves to be greater than expected" first attested 1892, originally in Amer.Eng,. sports jargon, probably from earlier gambling slang (1856) sense of "unexpected winning card." Meaning "spy, enemy agent, etc. who remains undercover for a long time before attempting his purpose" first attested 1955, originally in ref. to communist agents in the West.

sleet --- c.1300, slete, either from an unrecorded O.E. word or via M.H.G. sloz, M.L.G. sloten (pl.) "hail," from P.Gmc. *slautjan- (cf. dial. Norw. slutr, Dan. slud, Swed. sloud "sleet"), from root *slaut-. The verb is attested from c.1325.

sleeve --- O.E. sliefe (W.Saxon), slefe (Mercian), from P.Gmc. *slaubjon (cf. M.L.G. sloven "to dress carelessly," O.H.G. sloufen "to put on or off"). Related to O.E. sliefan "put on (clothes)" and slupan "to slip, glide," from PIE base *sleubh- "to slide, slip." (cf. expression to slip into "to dress in"). Mechanical sense is attested from 1864. To have something up one's sleeve is recorded from c.1500; to laugh in (or up) one's sleeve is from 1560. Meaning "the English Channel" translates Fr. La Manche.

sleigh --- 1703, Amer.Eng. and Canadian, from Du. slee, shortened from slede (see sled). Sleigh-ride is first recorded 1770; sleigh-bells is from c.1780.

sleight --- cunning, c.1275, from O.N. sloegð "cleverness, cunning, slyness," from sloegr (see sly). Term sleight of hand is attested from c.1400.

slender --- c.1300, probably from a Fr. source, often said to be from O.Fr. esclendre "thin, slender," which could be from O.Du. slinder, but the connections, and even the existence of these words, is doubtful. Slenderize "get slender" is from 1923.

sleuth --- c.1200, "track or trail of a person," from O.N. sloð "trail," of uncertain origin. Meaning "detective" is 1872, shortening of sleuthhound "keen investigator" (1849), a figurative use of a word for a kind of bloodhound that dates back to 1375. The verb (intrans.) meaning "to act as a detective, investigate" is recorded from 1912.

slew (n.1) --- swampy place, 1708, N.Amer. variant of slough.

slew (n.2) --- large number, 1839, from Ir. sluagh "a host, crowd, multitude."

slew (v.) --- to turn, swing, twist, 1834, earlier slue (1769), a nautical word, of unknown origin. Slewed (1801) is old nautical slang for "drunk."

slice (n.) --- c.1300, "a fragment," from O.Fr. esclis "splinter," a back-formation from esclicier "to splinter," from Frank. *slitan "to split" (cf. O.H.G. slizan; see slit). Meaning "piece cut from something" emerged c.1420. Meaning "a slicing stroke" (in golf, tennis) is recorded from 1886. Slice of life (1895) translates Fr. tranche de la vie, a term from Fr. Naturalist literature.

slice (v.) --- c.1420, from from M.Fr. esclicier (see slice (n.)). Sliced bread introduced 1958; greatest thing since ... first attested 1969.

slick (n.) --- 1626, a kind of cosmetic, from slick (v.). Meaning "smooth place on the surface of water caused by oil, etc." is attested from 1849. Meaning "a swindler, clever person" is attested from 1959.

slick (v.) --- O.E. -slician (attested in nigslicod "newly made sleek"), from P.Gmc. *slikojanan, from base *slikaz (cf. O.N. slikr "smooth," O.H.G. slihhan, Ger. schleichen "to creep, crawl, sneak," Du. slijk "mud, mire"), from PIE *sleig- "to smooth, glide, be muddy," from base *(s)lei- "slimy" (cf. O.E. lim "birdlime;" L. limus "slime," linere "to anoint;" Skt. linati "sticks, stays"). The adj. is first attested c.1300, "smooth, glossy, sleek" (of skin or hair); sense of "clever in deception" is first recorded 1599.

slicker --- 1884, "waterproof raincoat," from slick (v.); sense of "clever and crafty person" is from 1900.

slide (v.) --- O.E. slidan "move smoothly, glide," from P.Gmc. *slidanan (cf. O.H.G. slito, Ger. Schlitten "sledge"), from PIE base *(s)lei- "slide" (cf. Lith. slystu "to glide, slide," O.C.S. sledu "track," Gk. olisthos "slipperiness," olisthanein "to slip," M.Ir. sloet "slide"). Phrase to let (something) slide is recorded from c.1386. The noun is 1570, from the verb. Meaning "picture prepared for use with a projector" is attested from 1819 (in magic lantern shows). Slider as a type of baseball pitch is recorded from 1936. Slide-rule as a calculating tool is from 1838.

slight (adj.) --- from an O.Scand. source akin to O.N. slettr "smooth, sleek," from P.Gmc. *slikhtaz (cf. O.S. slicht; Low Ger. slicht "smooth, plain common;" O.E. -sliht "level," attested in eorðslihtes "level with the ground;" O.Fris. sliucht, M.Du. sleht, O.H.G. sleht, Goth. slaihts "smooth"), probably from a collateral form of PIE base *sleig- "to smooth, glide." Sense evolution is from "level" to "smooth, sleek" (c.1300), to "slender, weak" (1393), to "trifling, inferior" (1548). The verb sense of "treat with indifference" is first recorded 1597, from the adj. sense of "having little worth." Sense of Ger. cognate schlecht developed from "smooth, plain, simple" to "bad," and as it did it was replaced in the original senses by schlicht, a back-formation from schlichten "to smooth, to plane," a derivative of schlecht in the old sense.

slim --- 1657, "thin, slight, slender," from Du. slim "bad, sly, clever," from M.Du. slim "bad, crooked," from P.Gmc. *slembaz "oblique, crooked" (cf. M.H.G. slimp "slanting, awry," Ger. schlimm "bad"). The verb meaning "to try to reduce one's weight" is recorded from 1930. Slimming "producing an appearance of thinness" is from 1925. Slimnastics first recorded 1967. Slim Jim attested from 1889 in sense of "very thin person."

slime --- O.E. slim "slime," from P.Gmc. *slimaz (cf. O.N. slim, O.Fris. slym, Du. slijm, Ger. Schleim "slime"), probably related to O.E. lim "sticky substance," from PIE base *(s)lei- "slime, slimy, sticky, slippery" (cf. Rus. slimak "snail;" O.C.S. slina "spittle;" O.Ir. sligim "to smear;" Welsh llyfn "smooth;" Gk. leimax "snail," limne "marsh, pool, lake;" L. limus "slime, mud, mire," linere "to daub, besmear, rub out, erase;" see lime (1)). The verb meaning "to cover with slime" is recorded from 1628. The figurative sense of slimy as "morally repulsive" is first attested 1575.

sling (n.1) --- c.1300, "implement for throwing stones," from an unidentified continental source, e.g. M.L.G. slinge "sling," from P.Gmc. *slenganan (cf. O.H.G. slingan, Ger. schlingen "to swing to and fro, wind, twist;" O.E. slingan "to creep, twist;" O.Fris. slinge, O.H.G. slinga, Ger. Schlinge "sling;" M.Swed. slonga "noose, knot, snare"). The notion probably is of a sling being twisted and twirled before it is thrown. Sense of "loop for lifting or carrying heavy objects" first recorded 1323. Meaning "piece of cloth tied around the neck to support an injured arm" is first attested 1720.

sling (n.2) --- sweet flavored liquor drink, 1807, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin; perhaps lit. "to throw back" a drink, or from Ger. schlingen "to swallow."

sling (v.) --- c.1225, "to knock down," later "to throw," originally "to throw with a sling" (c.1315), from O.N. slyngva, from the root of sling (n.1). Slingshot is attested from 1849; the piece of stone or metal hurled from it is a slung-shot (1848).

slink --- O.E. slincan "to creep, crawl" (of reptiles), from P.Gmc. *slenkanan (cf. Swed. slinka "to glide," Du. slinken "to shrink, shrivel;" related to sling (v.)). Of persons, attested from c.1374. Slinky (adj.) "sinuous and slender," of women or clothes, first attested 1921. As a proprietary name for a spring marketed as a toy, 1948, by James Industries Inc., Philadelphia, U.S.A.

slip (n.) --- narrow strip, 1440, probably from M.L.G. or M.Du. slippe "cut, slit," possibly related to O.E. toslifan "to split, cleave." Sense of "sprig for planting or grafting" first recorded in 1495; that of "young slender person" (a slip of a girl) in 1582; that of "narrow piece of paper" (e.g. pink slip) in 1687. Meaning "boat ramp" is from 1769. The meaning "potter's clay" is a different word, from O.E. slyppe "slime," related to slupan "to slip."

slip (v.) --- c.1300, "to escape, to move softly and quickly," from M.L.G. slippen "to glide, slide," from P.Gmc. *slipanan (cf. O.H.G. slifan, M.Du. slippen, Ger. schleifen "to glide, slide"), from PIE *sleib- "slimy, slippery," from base *(s)lei- "slimy, sticky, slippery" (see slime). Meaning "to lose one's footing" is from c.1340. The noun meaning "woman's sleeveless garment" is first recorded 1761. Meaning "mistake, minor fault" is from 1620. To give (someone) the slip is from 1567. To slip up "make a mistake" is from 1855; to slip through the net "evade detection" is from 1902. Slip-knot first attested 1659. Slip-stream is from 1913.

slipper --- type of footwear, 1478, from slip (v.), the notion being of a shoe that is "slipped" onto the foot.

slippery --- 1535, from slip (v.) (cf. O.E. slipor "slippery"). Metaphoric sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1555; slippery slope first attested 1951.

slipshod --- 1580, "wearing slippers or loose shoes," from slip (v.) + shod "wearing shoes." Sense of "slovenly, careless" is from 1815.

slit (v.) --- O.E. slitan "cut or tear up, slit," from P.Gmc. *slitanan (cf. O.S. slitan, O.N. slita, M.L.G., M.Du. sliten, Du. slijten, O.H.G. slizan, Ger. schleißen "to slit"). The noun is attested from c.1250. Slang sense of "vulva" is attested from 1648. Slit skirt is attested from 1913.

slither --- O.E. slidrian "to slide on a loose slope," a frequentative form of slidan "to slide" (see slide). Meaning "to walk in a sliding manner" is attested from 1848. In ref. to reptile motion, attested from 1839.

sliver --- c.1374, from obsolete verb sliven "to split, cleave," from O.E. toslifan "to split, cleave," from P.Gmc. *slifanan.

Sloane Ranger --- fashionable but conventional young woman of London, 1975, from Sloane Square, near Chelsea, with a play on Lone Ranger.

slob --- 1780, "mud, muddy land," from Ir. slab "mud," itself probably borrowed from Eng. slab "muddy place" (1610), from a Scand. source (cf. Icelandic slabb "sludge"). The meaning "untidy person" is first recorded 1861.

slobber (v.) --- c.1400, probably related to Frisian slobberje "to slurp," M.L.G. slubberen "slurp," M.Du. overslubberen "wade through a ditch," etc., all of imitative origin.

sloe --- fruit of the blackthorn, O.E. slah (pl. slan), from P.Gmc. *slaikhwon (cf. M.Du., Du. slee, O.H.G. sleha, Ger. Schlehe), from PIE *sleie- "blue, bluish, blue-black" (see livid). Sloe-eyed is attested from 1867; sloe gin first recorded 1895.

slog --- 1824, "hit hard," probably variant of slug (3) "to strike." Sense of "walk doggedly" first recorded 1872; noun sense of "hard work" is from 1888.

slogan --- 1513, "battle cry," from Gaelic sluagh-ghairm "battle cry used by Scottish Highland or Irish clans," from sluagh "army, host, slew" + gairm "a cry." Metaphoric sense of "distinctive word or phrase used by a political or other group" is first attested 1704. Sloganeering is attested from 1941.

sloop --- 1629, from Du. sloep "a sloop," probably from Fr. chaloupe, from O.Fr. chalupe "small, sloop-rigged vessel," probably related to Eng. shallop. In military use, a small ship of war carrying guns on the upper deck only.

slop --- c.1400, "mudhole," probably from O.E. -sloppe "dung" (in cusloppe "cow dung"), related to slyppe "slime" (see slip (v.)). Meaning "semiliquid food" first recorded 1657; that of "refuse liquid of any kind" (usually slops) is from 1815. Verb meaning "to spill carelessly" is from 1557.

slope (v.) --- 1591, from earlier adj. meaning "slanting" (1502), probably from M.E. aslope (adv.) "on the incline" (1470), from O.E. *aslopen, pp. of aslupan "to slip away," from a- "away" + slupan "to slip" (see sleeve). The noun is first recorded 1611, from the verb. Derogatory slang meaning "Oriental person" is attested from 1948.

sloppy --- 1727, "muddy," from slop (q.v.). Meaning "loose, ill-fitting" is first recorded 1825, influenced by slop "loose outer garment" (1376), which is probably from M.Du. slop. Hence, also, slop-shop (1723). Sloppy Joe was originally "loose-fitting sweater worn by girls" (1942); as a name for a kind of spiced hamburger, it is attested from 1961.

slosh --- 1814, "slush, sludge," probably a blend of slush and slop in its M.E. sense of "muddy place." The verb meaning "to splash about in mud or wet" is from 1844. Meaning "to pour carelessly" is recorded from 1875. Sloshed "drunk" is recorded from c.1900.

slot (1) --- c.1300, "hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone," from O.Fr. esclot, of uncertain origin. Sense of "narrow opening into which something else can be fitted" is first recorded 1523. Meaning "middle of the (semi-circular) copy desk at a newspaper," the spot occupied by the chief sub-editor, is recorded from 1917. The sense of "opening in a machine for a coin to be inserted" is from 1888 (slot machine first attested 1891). The sense of "position in a list" is first recorded 1942; verb sense of "designate, appoint" is from 1960s. Slot car first attested 1966.

slot (2) --- bar or bolt used to fasten a door, window, etc., c.1300, from M.Du. or M.L.G. slot (cf. O.N. slot, O.H.G. sloz, Ger. Schloss "bolt, bar;" O.S. slutil "key"), from P.Gmc. stem *slut- "to close" (cf. O.Fris. sluta, Du. sluiten, O.H.G. sliozan, Ger. schliessen "to shut, close"), from PIE base *klau- "hook, peg" (cf. Gk. kleis "key;" L. claudere "to shut, close," clavis "key," clavus "nail;" see close (v.)).

sloth --- c.1175, "indolence, sluggishness," formed from M.E. slou, slowe (see slow); replacing O.E. slæwð. Sense of "slowness, tardiness" is from c.1380. As one of the deadly sins, it translates L. accidia. The slow-moving mammal first so called 1613, a translation of Port. preguiça, from L. pigritia "laziness" (cf. Sp. perezosa "slothful," also "the sloth").

slouch --- 1515, "lazy man," variant of slouk (1570), perhaps from O.N. slokr "lazy fellow," and related to slack on the notion of "sagging, drooping." Meaning "stooping of the head and shoulders" first recorded 1725. The verb meaning "walk with a slouch" is from 1754. Slouch hat first attested 1837.

slough (n.) --- muddy place, O.E. sloh "muddy place," probably from P.Gmc. *slokhaz.

slough (v.) --- cast off (as the skin of a snake or other animal), 1720, originally of diseased tissue, from M.E. noun meaning the skin thus cast off (c.1300), probably related to O.S. sluk "skin of a snake," M.H.G. sluch "snakeskin," M.L.G. slu "husk, peel, skin," from P.Gmc. *sluk-.

Slovak --- 1829, from Fr. Slovak, from the people's own name (cf. Slovak, Czech Slovak, pl. Slovaci; Pol. Slowak; Rus. Slovak; Ger. Slowake).

Slovene --- 1883, from Ger. Slowene, from Slovenec, the people's own name, originally lit. "Slav." A survival of the old native designation of the Slavic people, cf. O.C.S. Slovene.

slovenly --- 1515, "low, base, lewd," later "untidy, dirty" (1568), from sloven "immoral woman" (c.1450), later also "rascal, knave" (regardless of gender); probably from M.Flem. sloovin "a scold," related to sloef "untidy, shabby," from P.Gmc. *slup- + O.Fr. suffix -ain, from L. -anus.

slow (adj.) --- O.E. slaw "inactive, sluggish," also "not clever," from P.Gmc. *slæwaz (cf. O.S. sleu "blunt, dull," M.Du. slee, Du. sleeuw "sour, tart, blunt," O.H.G. sleo "blunt, dull," O.N. sljor, Dan. sløv, Swed. slö "blunt, dull"). Meaning "taking a long time" is attested from c.1230. Meaning "dull, tedious" is from 1841. The verb is O.E. slawian; modern use may be a 16c. reformation. Slowpoke is first recorded 1848. Slow burn "delayed anger reaction" is attested from 1975.

slubberdegullion --- a slobbering or dirty fellow, a worthless sloven, 1611, from slubber "to daub, smear" (1530), probably from Du. or Low Ger. Second element appears to be an attempt to imitate French; perhaps related to O.Fr. goalon "a sloven."

sludge --- 1649, possibly from M.E. slutch "mud, mire," or a variant of slush.

sluff --- avoid work, 1951 slang variant of slough (v.).

slug (1) --- shell-less land snail, 1704, originally "lazy person" (1408); related to sluggard.

slug (2) --- lead bit, 1622, perhaps a special use of slug (1) with reference to its shape. Meaning "token or counterfeit coin" first recorded 1881; meaning "strong drink" first recorded 1756, perhaps from slang fire a slug "take a drink," though it also may be related to Ir. slog "swallow."

slug (3) --- a hard blow, 1830, dialectal, perhaps related to slaughter, slay, etc. The verb is recorded from 1862. Slugger first recorded 1877; slugfest is from 1916.

sluggard --- c.1386 (implied in sluggardly), from M.E. sluggi "sluggish, indolent," probably from a Scand. word, cf. dialectal Norw. and Sw. slugga "be sluggish," dialectal Norw. sluggje "heavy, slow person."

sluggish --- 1440, from M.E. slugge "lazy person" (see sluggard). Earlier adj. was sluggi (c.1225).

sluice --- c.1340, aphetic of O.Fr. escluse "sluice, floodgate," from L.L. exclusa "barrier to shut out water" (in aqua exclusa "water shut out"), from fem. sing. of L. exclusus, pp. of excludere "shut out" (see exclude).

slum --- 1845, from back slum "back alley, street of poor people" (1825), originally a slang word meaning "room," especially "back room" (1812), of unknown origin. Go slumming is from 1884, pastime popularized by East End novels. Slumlord first attested 1953, from slum landlord (1893).

slumber --- 1362, alteration of slumeren (c.1220), freq. form of slumen "to doze," probably from O.E. sluma "light sleep" (cf. M.Du. slumen, Du. sluimeren, Ger. schlummern "to slumber"). Frequentative on the notion of "intermittent light sleep." The noun is attested from c.1386. Slumber party first recorded 1942.

slump (v.) --- 1677, "fall or sink into a muddy place," probably from a Scand. source, cf. Norw. and Dan. slumpe "fall upon," Swed. slumpa; perhaps ultimately of imitative origin. The noun meaning "heavy decline in prices on the stock exchange" is from 1888; generalized to "sharp decline in trade or business" 1922.

slur (n.) --- deliberate slight, 1609, from dialectal slur "thin or fluid mud," from M.E. slore (1440), cognate with M.L.G. sluren, M.Du. sloren "to trail in mud." Related to E.Fris. sluren "to go about carelessly," Norw. slora "to be careless." The musical sense (1746) is from the notion of "sliding."

slurp --- 1648, from Du. slurpen, perhaps of imitative origin (cf. Ger. schlurfen). The noun is first recorded 1949.

slurry --- c.1440, "mud, slime," probably related to M.E. sloor "thin or fluid mud" (see slur).

slush --- 1641, perhaps from a Scand. source (cf. Norw. and Sw. slask "slushy ground;" obs. Dan. slus "sleet"), all probably imitative of the sound of sloshing. Slush fund is first attested 1839, from an earlier sense of slush "refuse fat" (1756); the money from the sale of a ship's slush was distributed among the officers, which was the original sense of the phrase. The extended meaning "money collected for bribes and to buy influence" is first recorded 1874, no doubt with suggestions of "greasing" palms.