| 释义 |
slammerkinn.adj. Origin: Of unknown origin. Etymology: Origin unknown.Possible evidence for earlier currency. Slightly earlier currency is suggested by the name of Mrs. Slammekin , one of a group female characters in John Gay's Beggar's Opera (1728) who are listed as ‘women of the town’ and have surnames derived from derogatory words for promiscuous women (as e.ɡ. Diana Trapes, Dolly Trull, Betty Doxy). Compare, with specific allusion to this character's loose clothing:1728 J. Gay Beggar's Opera ii. iv. 23 Mrs. Slammekin! as careless and genteel as ever! all you fine Ladies, who know your own Beauty, affect an Undress. Discussion of etymology. There is insufficient evidence to establish the origin of this word with any degree of certainty. Early spellings and the absence of evidence for a suitable etymon in e.g. Dutch or German would suggest it is most likely to show a formation within English in -kin suffix; however, this renders the identity of the first element problematic. Possible candidates on semantic grounds are slummock n. and slummock v., which were associated with slammerkin by some 19th-century commentators. However, both of these words are first attested later than the present word, and their recorded spellings do not correspond closely with 18th-century spellings of this word such as slammekin, slamekin, slammerkin. Given both of these considerations, it seems more likely that secondary association with slummock n. and slummock v. may have influenced the subsequent formal development of this word. Alternatively, it is possible that this word originated as a derivative in -kin suffix of a simplex word such as slam n.4 or slam adj. (both of which are used earlier in a derogatory sense of people on the basis of their shape, although such uses appear to be rare) or slam v.1 (perhaps with allusion to careless or clumsy movement). A. n.the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > dress, robe, or gown > types of > loose-fitting α. 1729 30 Sept. Hoops, Farthingals, Corkins, Minikins, Slammakins. the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirty person > [noun] > woman or girl α. 1737 July 433/2 Wou'd you imagine that an impertinent Slammekin..wou'd dare to box his Ears, tear his Cravat, and fling his Peruke into the Fire? 1778 C. Dibdin i. 9 What slamekin's picture is this, Which out of your pocket you drew? 1808 J. Jamieson Slammikin, a drab, a slovenly woman; Loth[ian]. 1834 ‘J. Downing’ xiii. 69 Her clothes, in tatters, was put on as if with a pitchfork. She was a rale slamakin. 1839 G. C. Lewis 94 Slammockin, a slattern. 1898 B. Kirkby 134 Slommock, Slommocken,..these is terms of respect fer an idle, shufflen, mucky taistrel. 1954 ‘F. Marton’ i. 34 She was a large clumsy-looking slammakin, with..limp skirts and..few petticoats. B. adj.the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirty person > [adjective] the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > untidiness > [adjective] > of persons α. 1742 i. ii. 5 Not to be seen in that slamakin Dress there. 1789 May 295/1 It shall not be degraded by being put together in a slamakin and bungling manner. 1794 ‘P. Pindar’ 18 Meek Merit..So slammakin, untidy, ragged, mean, Her garments all so shabby and unpinn'd. 1851 T. Sternberg 99 Slommackin, large and clumsy. A gret slommackin wench. 1864 J. S. Le Fanu III. 157 Holding out with finger and thumb..her slammakin old skirt. 1877 F. Ross et al. 128/1 Slammackin, slatternly; slovenly; untidy in dress. 1967 J. H. B. Peel v. 71 In the Chilterns.., even in the late twentieth century, some of the old people still say ‘slommakin’ for ‘sluttish’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.adj.1729 |
