slewn.1
/sluː/, U.S. /slu/ 1.
a. U.S. and Canadian. A marshy or reedy pool, pond, small lake, backwater, or inlet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > lake > pool > [noun]
pooleOE
seathc950
lakea1000
flosha1300
stanga1300
weira1300
water poolc1325
carrc1330
stamp1338
stank1338
ponda1387
flashc1440
stagnec1470
peel?a1500
sole15..
danka1522
linn1577
sound1581
flake1598
still1681
slew1708
splash1760
watering hole1776
vlei1793
jheel1805
slougha1817
sipe1825
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > tributary > [noun] > side-stream or backwater
wash1530
by-river1577
by-stream1615
float1629
slew1708
by-rilla1711
marigot1759
off-stream1793
slougha1817
spreader1845
backwater1863
by-water1863
by-channel1864
billabong1865
α.
β. 1870 J. Orton Andes & Amazon xvi. 239 Beside a slue of sluggish black water.1902 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 504/1 In the first ‘slue’ we crossed.γ. 1891 E. Roper By Track & Trail vi. 80 At length we came to a very pretty sleugh, a pond of perhaps ten acres, surrounded by growing rushes and short willow bushes.1894 C. L. Johnstone Canada 47 The frog makes its voice heard in the ponds, or ‘sleughs’, as they are called out here.1708 S. Sewall Diary 18 Dec. (1973) I. 612 Got home well in my slay, had much adoe to avoid Slews.
1867 F. H. Ludlow Little Brother 112 It's in my heart to believe we could get the Lord's charriat out of this slew.
1888 Home Missionary (N.Y.) Dec. 380 We came to a ‘slew’ full of water... The horse..sank deeper and deeper, until he came to a standstill in the middle of the ‘slew’.
b. More generally, an expanse or mass of water. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > water > [noun] > body or mass
Atlantica1711
slew1915
1915 D. H. Lawrence Rainbow ix. 227 Tilly, an old woman now, came in saying that the labourers who had been suppering up said the yard and everywhere was just a slew of water.
1941 Penguin New Writing 2 20 Great slews of water flushed along the deck.
2. Coal Mining. (See quot. 1883.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > features of stratum or vein > [noun] > depression
underlie1778
underlying1778
underlaying1802
swelly1849
saddleback1883
slew1883
underlay1883
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 225 Slew,..a basin or natural swamp in a coal seam, often running several hundred yards in length.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
slewn.2
/sluː/, U.S. /slu/ 1. The act of turning, or causing to turn, without change of place; a turn, a twist; the position to which a thing has been turned.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > [noun] > changing to face different direction or turning
turning1303
turnc1390
circumversion1578
conversion1594
head1607
versation1656
wheela1660
slewc1860
c1860 H. Stuart Novices or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 49 The man in the crosstrees..keeps the yard on the right slue, that is with the jackstay up.
1879 R. L. Stevenson Trav. with Donkey 22 The pack, the basket, and the pilot-coat would take an ugly slew to one side or the other.
1893 A. H. Alston & T. P. Walker Seamanship (ed. 3) 241 The new sail has been swayed up, carefully kept on the right slue.
2. = slewing n. 2. Usually attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > processes > [adjective] > concerning input or output > describing response
flat1926
slew1958
slewing1958
1958 J. G. Truxal Control Engineers' Handbk. iii. 6 (table) Slew rate.
1981 Popular Hi-Fi Mar. 78/2 Measurements of slew rate do appear to be relevant to the performance of an amplifier.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
slewn.3
/sluː/, U.S. /slu/ colloquial (originally U.S.).
A very large number of, a great amount of. Also in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > (a) great quantity or amount
felec825
muchc1230
good wone1297
plentyc1300
bushelc1374
sight1390
mickle-whata1393
forcea1400
manynessa1400
multitudea1400
packc1400
a good dealc1430
greata1450
sackful1484
power1489
horseloadc1500
mile1508
lump1523
a deal?1532
peckc1535
heapa1547
mass1566
mass1569
gallon1575
armful1579
cart-load1587
mickle1599
bushelful1600–12
a load1609
wreck1612
parisha1616
herd1618
fair share1650
heapa1661
muchness1674
reams1681
hantle1693
mort1694
doll?1719
lift1755
acre1759
beaucoup1760
ton1770
boxload1795
boatload1807
lot1811
dollop1819
swag1819
faggald1824
screed1826
Niagara1828
wad1828
lashings1829
butt1831
slew1839
ocean1840
any amount (of)1848
rake1851
slather1857
horde1860
torrent1864
sheaf1865
oodlesa1867
dead load1869
scad1869
stack1870
jorum1872
a heap sight1874
firlot1883
oodlings1886
chunka1889
whips1888
God's quantity1895
streetful1901
bag1917
fid1920
fleetful1923
mob1927
bucketload1930
pisspot1944
shitload1954
megaton1957
mob-o-ton1975
gazillion1978
buttload1988
shit ton1991
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > a large number or multitude
sandc825
thousandc1000
un-i-rimeOE
legiona1325
fernc1325
multitudec1350
hundred1362
abundancec1384
quantityc1390
sight1390
felec1394
manyheada1400
lastc1405
sortc1475
infinityc1480
multiplie1488
numbers1488
power1489
many1525
flock1535
heapa1547
multitudine1547
sort1548
myriads1555
myriads1559
infinite1563
tot-quot1565
dickera1586
multiplea1595
troop1596
multitudes1598
myriad1611
sea-sands1656
plurality1657
a vast many1695
dozen1734
a good few1756
nation1762
vast1793
a wheen (of)1814
swad1828
lot1833
tribe1833
slew1839
such a many1841
right smart1842
a million and one1856
horde1860
a good several1865
sheaf1865
a (bad, good, etc.) sortc1869
immense1872
dunnamuch1875
telephone number1880
umpty1905
dunnamany1906
skit1913
umpteen1919
zillion1922
gang1928
scrillion1935
jillion1942
900 number1977
gazillion1978
fuckload1984
1839 D. P. Thompson Green Mountain Boys II. x. 145 He has cut out a road, and drawn up a whole slew of cannon clean to the top of Mount Defiance.
1858 Harper's Mag. May 767/2 By gracious! three thousand dollars is a 'tarnal slue of money.
1897 R. E. Robinson Uncle Lisha's Outing i. 2 I've seen slews on 'em [sc. ducks] on the ma'shes.
1937 Sun (Baltimore) 13 Nov. 8/1 This fable furnishes an excuse for a whole slue of low-comedy gags and wheezes.
1958 Listener 19 June 1015/2 I got up and checked with another inspector. There seemed to be slews of them lounging around.
1970 Guardian 9 Apr. 3/2 The offer has brought in ‘piles of letters’... In addition..he has received a ‘slew of calls’ from other bankers asking about the offer.
1978 J. Carroll Mortal Friends iv. vi. 458 Should I ask a slew of questions just to draw his gaze my way?
1982 Radio Times 11 Sept. 86/2 Roger Dennhardt had served three years of a 13-year sentence for armed robbery when..he offered to give evidence for the Crown against a slew of former associates.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
slewn.4
/sluː/, U.S. /slu/ Basketry.
A filling made of two or more strands worked together.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from other vegetable fibres > [noun] > randed work or basketry > other parts
pair1897
weaver1897
rand1903
trac1924
slew1960
1907 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 11 Jan. 190/2 The strokes chiefly used are termed: a slew when two or more rods are woven in together.., a fitch when two are woven alternately one under the other.
1953 A. G. Knock Willow Basket-work (ed. 5) 47 The upsetting, which is begun with tops, consists of four rounds of three-rod waling, and the siding is a three-rod slew.
1960 E. Legg Country Baskets 79 It was made of coarse brown willows in the familiar slew beloved of the worker anxious to turn out as many baskets as he could.
Derivatives
slew v.2
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > manufacture textile fabric [verb (intransitive)] > basket-making processes
slew1902
rand1962
upset1977
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [verb (transitive)] > basket-making > processes involved in
upset1875
slew1902
fitch1907
slype1910
by-stake1912
rib-rand1959
1902 P. N. Hasluck Basket Work 53 Start slewing with one rod, add another a few stakes farther on.
1912 T. Okey Introd. Art of Basket-making vi. 27 The slath being now finished he slews up the bottom to its required size.
1912 T. Okey Introd. Art of Basket-making vii. 59 Any small modification..may be made, during the slewing up of the bottom.
ˈslewing n.1
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [noun] > manufacture of fabric from specific materials > manufacture of articles made from twigs, etc. > basket-making > processes
slewing1902
picking1912
pricking-up1912
rib-randing1912
scallom1912
listing1953
slyping1960
1902 P. N. Hasluck Basket Work 50 Next fill in by working two rods together; this process is known by basket-makers as slewing.
1964 H. Hodges Artifacts x. 146 Both slewing and randing require an odd number of stakes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
slewv.
/sluː/, U.S. /slu/ 1. transitive. To turn (a thing) round upon its own axis, or without shifting it from its place; also loosely, to swing round:
a. Nautical and Military.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > turn (something) to a (different) direction > turn (as) on a pivot or swivel
swing1768
slew1769
swivel1794
slewc1825
α.
β. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 110 To slew a gun, or mortar,..is to turn it on its axis without moving it from the spot on which it rests. This is called slewing the trunnions.1879 Man. Siege & Garrison Artillery Exercises 451 The trunnions may be slewed, to bring them horizontal or vertical [etc.].1879 Man. Siege & Garrison Artillery Exercises 452 To slew a Gun end for end.1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine To Slue, is to turn any cylindrical or conical piece of timber about its axis, without removing it.
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 56 Slue the boom with the block up.
c1860 H. Stuart Novices or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 21 To slue up the other reefs.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 183 Slue the mast round.
b. In general use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > turn (something) to a (different) direction > turn (as) on a pivot or swivel
swing1768
slew1769
swivel1794
slewc1825
α.
β. 1849 T. De Quincey Vision Sudden Death in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 749 He slewed him round on the pivot of his hind legs.1893 ‘Q’ Delectable Duchy 120 The old woman..slewed her head painfully round and stared at him.c1825 J. Choyce Log of Jack Tar (1891) 79 I'll slue your toplights or you'll not see the road to heaven.
1833 F. Marryat Peter Simple vi Now, my lads,..we must slue (the part that breeches cover) more forward.
1883 E. F. Knight Cruise of ‘Falcon’ I. 39 A roller caught us, slued the boat round.
c. reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > direct [verb (reflexive)] > turn (as) on a pivot or swivel
slewa1835
a1835 M. Scott Cruise of Midge (1836) xiii. 212 I gradually slewed myself, so as to lie more on my side.
1852 C. Reade Peg Woffington (1853) 212 Mr. Vane..slewed himself round in his chair into a most awkward position.
1872 G. MacDonald Wilfrid Cumbermede I. xiii. 219 I..caught hold of one of the small pillars which supported the roof, and slewed myself in.
d. figurative. To beat, to outwit, to trick; also in to get slewed, to lose one's bearings in the bush, to be ‘bushed’. Australian and New Zealand.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > treat fraudulently, cheat [verb (transitive)] > outwit, get the better of
undergoa1325
circumvene1526
crossbitec1555
circumvent1564
gleek1577
outreach1579
fob1583
overreach1594
fub1600
encompassa1616
out-craftya1616
out-knave1648
mump1649
jockey1708
come1721
nail1735
slew1813
Jew1825
to sew up1837
to play (it) low down (on)1864
outfox1872
beat1873
outcraft1879
to get a beat on1889
old soldier1892
to put one over1905
to get one over on1912
to get one over1921
outsmart1926
shaft1959
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (intransitive)] > come to an impasse or be stuck
to stick in the claya1475
stick1534
stale1597
cumber1600
to stick in the mud1603
straita1616
strand1687
quagmire1701
stog1855
slew1890
bunker1894
bog1928
to be bogged1953
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel in specific course or direction > direct one's course [verb (intransitive)] > miss one's way > be lost
maska1387
willc1390
mara1450
to lose one's way1530
to walk will of one's way1572
wilder1658
maroon1699
to get slewed1929
1813 V. Pyke Story Wild Will Enderby (ed. 2) i. xi. 62 The general impression seemed to be that Jack Ketch had been ‘slued’ (anglice, robbed of his dues) by the trio.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 106 I was as right as ninepence, and then to be slewed that way, and all for the want of a strap or two.
1929 K. S. Prichard Coonardoo xvii. 167 We separated, followin' tracks, and I managed to get slewed.
1944 Living off Land: Man. Bushcraft iv. 65 Many a bushman has become bushed before now, while even a good bushman may get slewed for a few hours in strange and difficult country.
e. To intoxicate (cf. slewed adj.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (transitive)] > make drunk
fordrenchc1000
indrunkena1300
mazec1390
distemper1491
whittle1530
swill1548
inebriate1555
disguise1560
intoxicatea1566
tipple1566
overtake1577
betipple1581
seethe1599
fuddlec1600
fox1611
wound1613
cupa1616
fuzzle1621
to gild overa1625
sousea1625
tip1637
tosticate1650
drunkify1664
muddle1668
tipsy1673
sop1682
fuzz1685
confound1705
mellowa1761
prime1788
lush1821
soak1826
touch1833
rosin1877
befuddle1887
slew1888
lush1927
wipe1972
1888 W. B. Churchward ‘Blackbirding’ in S. Pacific 209 An awful chap to drink, but it took a tremendous lot to slue him.
2. intransitive. To turn about; to swing round. Also with over. More recently, of motor vehicles, to skid uncontrollably (across a surface); to slide and turn out of the proper course, to ‘career’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] > turn round or to face a direction > turn (as) on a pivot or swing round
turnOE
revirec1485
virec1485
circumlate1578
swing1769
slew1823
swivel1846
pivot1883
jib1891
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > move or go along [verb (intransitive)] > skid
side-skid1906
skid1907
slew1914
α.
β. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxv. 266 They slued round and were hove up.1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vi. 171 The giraffe..slewed round like a vessel in full sail.1873 G. C. Davies Mountain, Meadow & Mere xvi. 136 He was just within shot when his boat slewed round broadside to the waves.1914 R. Kipling Diversity of Creatures (1917) 389 ‘We overtake on the right as a rule in England.’ ‘Thanks!’ Mr Lingnam slued over.1943 Sun (Baltimore) 8 Sept. 3/2 The..luxury train..slewed crazily over four tracks when its locomotive boiler blew up.1965 M. Bradbury Stepping Westward viii. 380 On one sharp bend the car slewed across the road and angled round again just short of the edge of a deep ravine.1982 B. Chatwin On Black Hill xx. 97 The car slewed off down the yard.1823 W. Scoresby Jrnl. Voy. Northern Whale-fishery 301 The floe..began to ‘slue’ or revolve.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxv. 83 The martingale had slued away off to leeward.
1883 Cassell's Family Mag. Dec. 59/2 The two front skates, or runners, are made to slue round at the will of the driver.
3. Of a control mechanism or electronic device: to undergo slewing (slewing n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > processes > [verb (intransitive)] > undergo slewing
slew1958
1958 Gibson & Tuteur Control System Components v. 237 A servo using this circuit tends to have relatively poor synchronizing characteristics when slewing, i.e., when large and rapid changes of the input are made.
1962 L. A. Stockdale Servomechanisms vii. 112 The slewing time may form part of the servo specification, i.e. the servo to slew through 90° in the minimum time.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.2c1860n.31839n.41902v.1769