slow stepn.
/ˈsləʊ stɛp/, U.S. /ˈsloʊ ˌstɛp/ Military.
A step used when marching in slow time (slow time n. 1); a slow, ceremonial marching step. Cf. quickstep n. 1.
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society > armed hostility > military operations > evolution > [noun] > marching > step > specific
sidestep1757
slow step1763
quickstep1766
high step1776
lockstep1787
goose-step1806
balance-step1833
1763 J. Mac Intire Mil. Treat. Discipline Marine Forces 176 In the slow Step, the Drum is to count 1, 2, from the Time of beating one Flam, till another is begun.
1775 T. Pickering Easy Plan Discipline for Militia 51 When the men are marching by the slow-step, and you would have them change to the quick-step, give the word Quick Step!..then give the word March!
1862 J. C. Byrne Red, White, & Blue I. i. 129 Slow step is abolished, and the ‘pas ordinaire’ is ordered to be in future 77 to the minute, and 110 to the minute double quick.
1971 E. S. Miers Crossroads of Freedom i. vii. 69 In columns of four and reversing their arms, the escort led the procession in slow step to the churchyard.
2006 P. C. Hoffer Seven Fires 349 He watched crews marching in slow step behind the flag-draped apparatus.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1763