go-slown.adj.
/ˈɡəʊˌsləʊ/, /ˌɡəʊˈsləʊ/, U.S. /ˈɡoʊˈˌsloʊ/ Originally U.S.
A. n.
1. A person who goes about or does something slowly; one who has a slow, gradual, or hesitant approach. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [noun] > one who or that which is slow
sloweOE
tarrier1382
sluggard1398
slugc1425
slugger1539
lingerer1579
snaila1593
slowcoach1828
slowpoke1847
go-slow1858
slowie1901
slow boat to China1919
swiftie1945
1858 Connersville (Indiana) Weekly Times 23 Dec. He divided the aged ‘go slows’ into two sections... One class was too indolent to do anything, and the other was secretly in the pay of King Philip.
1880 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 22 Sept. 7/2 A little development was required to make this prospect a great mine. This was the signal for ‘go-slows’ to investigate holes that had been discovered years before.
1921 Collier's 15 Oct. 14/1 The Go Slows live on the corner of Not-Now and Wait-a-While Streets.
2010 B. Wrenn et al. Building Strong Congregations 277 Others distinguish between the psychological and physical differences among older individuals; the ‘go-goes’, the ‘go-slows’, and the ‘no-goes’.
2. A form of industrial protest in which work is carried out at a deliberately slow pace. Cf. ca'canny n., slowdown n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > [noun] > protest > forms of
rattening1828
polytechnic1835
restriction1852
lockout1853
ca'canny1896
restrictive practice1896
go-slow1920
hartal1920
lock-in1920
working to rule1920
work-to-rule1920
cacannyism1921
job actionc1926
slowdown1926
gherao1967
work-in1967
work-to-contract1969
sick-out1970
sick-in1974
siege action1977
1920 Americas Feb. 10/1 In an iron works employing 1,200 men there was a ‘go slow’ in progress late in December.
1955 Times 12 Aug. 8/4 The men's representatives undertook that there would be no further ‘go slows’ or stoppages and that every man would work his full shift.
1963 Listener 10 Jan. 76/1 A ‘go slow’ at power stations.
2009 I. Thomson Dead Yard xv. 190 In 1968..Jamaica was convulsed by industrial strikes and go-slows.
B. adj. (attributive).
1. Of or relating to the action of proceeding slowly with anything; characterized by or favouring a slow or gradual approach.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [adjective] > marked or characterized by slowness
slowa1300
go-slow1874
1874 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 4 Apr. When Judge League last night counseled the ‘go slow’ policy, some of the audience manifested a contrary tendency.
1889 Bacchus Marsh (Victoria) Express 4 Mar. There is a ‘go slow air’ about the two or three residents observable as one passes along the street.
1948 Life 29 Mar. 36/2 Over against the ‘act now’ trend of thought has been the ‘go slow’ school.
1977 Audubon Sept. 64/2 A study made by the Rand Corporation for the State of California advised a ‘go-slow’ policy for the building of nuclear plants.
2005 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 12 May 21/3 The go-slow, think-twice institutional caution which follows when presidents lose their stomach for the hard decisions required to fight dirty wars.
2. spec. originally Australian. Designating a form of industrial protest (or, in early use, organized restrictive practice) in which work is carried out at a deliberately slow pace; of, relating to, or characterized by such action. Cf. A. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > [adjective] > type of protest
ca'canny1896
go-slow1902
go-easy1916
slowdown1919
work-to-rule1920
1902 Bunyip (Gawler, S. Austral.) 25 July The ca 'canny policy is a development of the new Unionism of dead levelism..; and this go-slow system is not restricted to Government employ.
1904 McClure's Mag. Dec. 133/1 Union leaders nearly always dislike to admit that such restrictions of work are practised; but all of the manufacturers I have talked with complain of the ‘go-slow’ system most bitterly.
1908 Examiner (Launceston, Tasmania) 7 Apr. 1/7 Telegraph operators in India are on a ‘go slow’ strike.
1930 Times 27 Mar. 19/5 The receipts..showed large decreases..due to the recent ‘go-slow’ movement amongst the men.
1972 Financial Times 28 Sept. 26/3 Workers began a go-slow action September 5 and demanded pay rises beyond the terms of a recently concluded agreement.
2012 Star (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 10 Jan. 1 The Gautrain bus drivers' go-slow strike is set to continue today.
Derivatives
ˌgo-ˈslower n. a person who proceeds or works slowly; esp. a worker who takes part in a go-slow (sense A. 2); (also) a person who favours or advocates a slow approach to something.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > worker according to manner of working > [noun] > slow or ineffectual
piddler1602
slobberer1787
go-slower1920
ghost payroller1952
1920 Hawera & Normanby (N.Z.) Star 29 Oct. 1/5 (advt.) A firm..has a vacancy for a live, energetic man with ability to secure business without being ‘spoon fed’ all the time... No ‘go slowers’ need apply.
1938 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. 5 May 8/3 The go-slowers favored the Richberg plan of ‘self government’ by the monopolies themselves.
1963 Times 12 Jan. 9/5 I would ask potential strikers or ‘go-slowers’ not to add to the hardship of old people, for whom each winter is a recurring agony.
2011 Weekend Post (Port Elizabeth) (Nexis) 14 May Can it be any surprise that our municipality..is staffed by swathes of demoralised and unproductive clock-watchers and go-slowers?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.adj.1858