slivingn.
Now dialect.
1. A slash; the action of cutting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > [noun] > a cut or incision
garse?c1225
chinea1387
slit1398
incisionc1400
slivingc1400
raising?a1425
scotchc1450
racec1500
tranchec1500
kerf?1523
hack1555
slash1580
hew1596
raze1596
incutting1598
slisha1616
scar1653
lancementa1655
slap1688
slip1688
nick1692
streak1725
sneck1768
snick1775
rut1785
sliver1806
overcut1874
c1400 Anturs of Arth. (Taylor) xlviii He wend with a slyuyng, hade slayn him with slyȝt.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 459/2 Slyvynge, cuttynge a-wey, avulsio, abscisio.
2. A slip or cutting; a scion; a shoot or branch cut off. (Cf. slaving n.1 and sleaving n.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > [noun] > by cuttings > cutting or slip
planteOE
plantingeOE
quickwoodc1383
graffa1393
sarmenta1398
slivingc1400
springc1400
clavec1420
sleavingc1440
talionc1440
quick1456
quicking1469
graft1483
quickset1484
slip1495
setlingc1503
set1513
pitchset1519
slaving?1523
truncheon1572
stallon1587
crosset1600
marquot1600
sliver1604
secta1616
offset1629
slipping1638
side-slip1651
slift1657
cutting1691
pitcher1707
mallet-shoot1745
root cutting1784
stowing1788
stool1789
pitch1808
heel1822
cutling1834
piping1851
cutback1897
stump plant1953
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vii. 26 Men take plantes or slyfynges þeroff and sett þam in oþer placez.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 459/2 Slyvynge, of a tre or oþer lyke, fissula.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 75 Some are also sette of the slippes, or slyuynges.
1580 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Bk. Medicines agaynst Venome in Ioyfull Newes (new ed.) f. 134 There doeth come from them [sc. buds] many rounde coddes or slyuinges.
1882 G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk. (at cited word) The term sliving is more especially applied to a branch—usually of hedge-row trees—sliced off with the hatchet in ‘pleaching’ the hedge.
3. A slice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > condition of being broad in relation to thickness > [noun] > thin piece cut off
slicea1475
trench1558
slivinga1825
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a separate part > a piece or bit > a piece cut off > a slice
cantlec1400
leachc1440
slicea1475
tailye?a1500
tranchec1500
trench1558
slive1577
collop1579
gigot?1611
slivinga1825
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Sliving, a slice of flesh.
1896 W. W. Skeat & T. Hallam Pegge's Two Coll. Derbicisms 64 A great sliving of bread.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
slivingadj.
/ˈslʌɪvɪŋ/ Slow-moving, dilatory; sneaking; stealing imperceptibly. Also in dialect use as a n., explained by Thoresby (1703) as ‘a lazy fellow’ and by Hutton (1781) as ‘a slovenly clown’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > sluggish or heavy
slowOE
sluggy?c1225
dull1393
slowfulc1400
sluggedc1430
sluggingc1430
slugc1440
sluggishc1450
lithera1500
peakish1519
lumpish1528
sopit1528
loiterous1566
slugring1566
drowsy1570
slow-bellied1576
snailish1581
blate1597
druggly1611
jacent1611
clammy1622
loggish1642
ignave1657
sliving1661
druggle-headed1694
slow-coachish1844
loggy1847
logy1859
tardigradous1866
tardigrade1883
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [adjective] > slow to act or dilatory
slowOE
tediousc1485
longsome1543
dilatorya1616
sliving1661
wanting1691
traa dy liooar1878
spare-
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > [adjective]
creepinga1400
slyc1440
prowling1546
stealing1574
sneaking1590
cat-footed1598
soft-footed1603
surrepent1608
cat-likea1616
stealthya1616
grassant1659
sliving1661
creep-mouse1766
secret1768
slinking1841
pussy-footed1893
undercreeping1893
pussyfooting1926
slinky1951
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > lurking, skulking > [adjective]
loutinga1325
louring?a1400
lurkingc1540
mitching1576
meechering1615
meeching1616
skulking1639
couchant1642
lurching1661
sliving1661
the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > [adjective] > softly or stealthily
stealing1574
reptitious1658
sliving1821
1661 K. W. Confused Characters 88 He would prove an unmatchable piece of sliving policy.
1710 S. Centlivre Man's Bewitch'd iii. i. 27 The sliving baggage will not come to a resolution yet.
a1800 S. Pegge Suppl. Grose's Provinc. Gloss. (1814) (at cited word) A sliving fellow, one who loiters about with a bad intent.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 22 Ere sliving night around his journey threw Her circling curtains.
c1909 D. H. Lawrence Collier's Friday Night (1934) iii. 75 I'm not a fool, if you think so. I can pay you yet, you sliving bitch!
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers iv. 66 What should go runnin' up my arm but a mouse... They'll get in your pocket an' eat your snap, if you'll let 'em..the slivin', nibblin' little nuisances.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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n.c1400adj.1661