slouchn.
/slaʊtʃ/, U.S. /slaʊtʃ/ 1.
a. An awkward, slovenly, or ungainly man; a lubber, lout, clown; also, a lazy, idle fellow.Frequently in 16th and 17th centuries as a term of disparagement without precise significance.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > stupid person, dolt, blockhead > lout, oaf, booby > [noun]
lubber1362
looby1377
howfing?a1513
slouch?1518
bowberta1522
knuckylbonyarda1529
lob1533
lout1548
patch1549
hoballa1556
lilburnea1556
lobcocka1556
chub1558
hick1565
lourd1579
peasant1581
clown1583
lubbard1586
lumberer1593
lump1597
blooterc1600
boobyc1600
lob-coat1604
hoy1607
bacon-brainsa1635
alcatote1638
oaf1638
kelf1665
brute1670
dowf1722
gawky1724
chuckle1731
chuckle-head1731
John Trott1753
stega1823
lummoxa1825
gawk1837
country jakea1854
guffin1862
galoot1866
stot1877
lobster1896
mutt1900
palooka1920
schlub1950
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun] > lazy person > loutish or stupid
lubber1362
slouch?1518
lubber-wort1547
litherback1577
lubbard1586
lither lurdena1590
litherby1598
?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog Prol. sig. Av A lordes stomake, and a beggers pouche Full yll accordeth, suche was this comely slouche.
?1567 Merie Tales Master Skelton sig. Bviiv A cobler..which was a tall man and a greate slouen, otherwyse named a slouche.
1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 143 The louzie Couch Of som base Buffon, or som beastly Slouch.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. D2 A foul great stooping slouch with heavie eyes, And hanging lip.
1709 Brit. Apollo 21–26 Oct. A Capacious Pouch, Which look'd like Tail at Rump of Slouch.
1714 J. Gay Shepherd's Week i. 39 Begin thy Carrols then, thou vaunting Slouch.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Slouch,..a negligent slovenly fellow.
1807 J. Stagg Misc. Poems (new ed.) 143 Ye'd luok but silly slouches.
1884 R. L. Stevenson Lett. (1901) I. 342 I recognise myself, compared with you, to be a lout and slouch of the first water.
b. Originally U.S. slang. A poor, indifferent, or inefficient thing, place, person, etc. Chiefly in the negative phrase no slouch of (something); also const. at or with qualifying phr.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [noun]
poornessa1382
chaffc1386
cold roast?1406
arse-guta1413
short end1560
under-kind1571
inferior1589
canvas-back1605
underthing1620
under-sort1655
wasteling1750
slouch1767
shamea1771
neck beefa1777
rep1786
wastrel1790
wastera1800
shoddy1862
piece1884
tinhorn1887
robbo1897
cheapie1898
buckeye1906
reach-me-down1916
dog1917
stinkeroo1934
bodgie1964
cheapo1975
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] > excellent person or thing
carbunclea1350
swanc1386
phoenixc1400
diamondc1440
broocha1464
surmounterc1500
sovereign?a1513
primrose peerless1523
superlative1577
transcendent1593
Arabian birda1616
crack1637
first rate1681
peach1710
phoenicle1711
admiration1717
spanker1751
first-raterc1760
no slouch of1767
nailer1806
tip-topper1822
ripper1825
ripstaver1828
apotheosis1832
clinker1836
clipper1836
bird1839
keener1839
ripsnorter1840
beater1845
firecracker1845
pumpkin1845
screamer1846
stunner1847
bottler1855
beaut1866
bobby-dazzler1866
one out of the box1867
stem-winder1875
corker1877
trimmer1878
hot stuff1884
daisy1886
jim-dandy1887
cracker1891
jim-hickey1895
peacherino1896
pippin1897
alpha plus1898
peacherine1900
pip1900
humdinger1905
bosker1906
hummer1907
good egg1914
superstar1914
the berries1918
bee's knee1923
the cat's whiskers1923
smash1923
smash hit1923
brahma1925
dilly1935
piss-cutter1935
killer1937
killer-diller1938
a hard act to follow1942
peacheroo1942
bitch1946
brammerc1950
hot shit1960
Tiffany1973
bollocks1981
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > person of weak intellect > confused, muddled person > [noun]
mafflardc1450
juffler15..
dromedary1567
madbrain1570
batie buma1586
addle-head1592
blunderkin1596
nit1598
addle-pate1601
hash1655
blunderbuss1692
blunderhead1692
shaffles1703
fog-pate1732
blunderer1741
puzzle-pate1761
slouch1767
étourdi1768
botch1769
puddle1782
bumble1789
scatter-brain1790
addle-brain1799
puzzle-head1815
shaffler1828
chowderhead1833
muddlehead1833
muddler1833
flounderer1836
duffer1842
muddle-pate1844
plug1848
incompetent1866
schlemiel1868
dinlo1873
drumble-dore1881
hodmandod1881
dub1887
prune1895
foozler1896
bollock1916
messer1926
Pilot Officer (also P.O.) Prune1942
spaz1965
spastic1981
(a)
(b)1844 ‘J. Slick’ High Life N.Y. I. 177 Old Nick is no slouch at putting the shine on the ruff of his house, anyhow.1874 J. W. Long Amer. Wild-fowl Shooting viii. 139 I guess you a'n't much of a ‘slouch’ at shooting.1898 F. T. Bullen Cruise ‘Cachalot’ x. 107 He was no ‘slouch’ at the business either.1956 People 13 May 4/5 But Tony, no slouch when it comes to showmanship, helped it along by wearing..a rose brocade dinner jacket.1961 Coast to Coast 1959–60 42 Speaking of Bradman, Mr Stulpnagel, they say you were no mean slouch with the bat yourself.1967 G. F. Fiennes I tried to run Railway ii. 7 He, Happy, himself no slouch at basic English, was revolted by George's language.1978 R. Holles Spawn v. 42 He was making his pile... He's certainly no slouch in the business world.1767 ‘A. Barton’ Disappointment ii.i ii. 73 He looks like no slouch of a fellow.
1840 C. F. Hoffman Greyslaer II. ii. x. 23 You are no slouch of a woodsman to carry a yearling of such a heft as that.
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad iv. 41 It..became a most lamentable ‘slouch of a journal’.
1879 A. W. Tourgée Fool's Errand 308 The mare..was no slouch, either.
1888 J. A. Lees & W. J. Clutterbuck B.C. 1887: Ramble in Brit. Columbia (1892) xxxiii. 366 We came to Spokane Falls, which seemed to be ‘no slouch of a city’.
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey iii. x. 281 ‘No slouch of a miracle!’ he thought, ‘modern town life!’
2. elliptical. A slouch hat or bonnet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > with a brim > with brim hanging over face
slouch1714
slouched hat1779
slouch hat1837
smasher hat1891
vagabond1927
1714–28 in Notes & Queries 5th Ser. XI. 247/1 Paid 20s. for a ribbon and slouch for Molly.
1778 D. Garrick in H. Fielding Fathers Epil. sig. Aiv The high-cock'd, half-cock'd, quaker, and the slouch, Have at ye all!
1867 F. H. Ludlow Little Brother 189 With his long grey hair streaming from under his slouch.
1891 E. Kinglake Austral. at Home 107 His hat is either small, round and hard, or a black slouch.
3.
a. A stooping, or bending forward of the head and shoulders, in walking; a loose, ungainly carriage or bearing; a walk or gait characterized by this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > manner of walking > awkward
shailingc1440
shambling1681
slouch1725
slouchinga1764
shamble1826
shail1887
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of bending > [noun] > bent posture > slouch
slouch1725
slouchinga1764
slouchiness1891
1725 J. Swift Let. to Pope 29 Sept. in Lett. Dr. Swift (1741) 36 He hath a sort of a slouch in his walk!
1771 H. Mackenzie Man of Feeling xi He was known by the slouch in his gait, and the length of his stride.
1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful I. iii. 46 The slouch in the back is taken out, their heavy walk is changed to a firm..tread.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. xii. 119 Making himself more round-shouldered..by the sullen and persistent slouch.
1885 J. Runciman Skippers & Shellbacks 258 The slight slouch that most of our men cultivated.
b. Const. of (the shoulders, etc.).
ΚΠ
1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 881 The carter..plods with double slouch of shoulder.
1892 R. L. Stevenson Across Plains v. 176 The very slouch of the fellows' shoulders tells their story.
4. The fact or condition of slouching or hanging down loosely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > hanging down > hanging down loosely
slouch1851
1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters I. ix. 121 Fierce glances lower under the slouch of broad sombreros.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
slouchadj.
rare.† 1. Drooping or hanging loosely; slouching.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [adjective] > hanging down > loosely
swagging1593
ungathered1615
swaggy1646
sagged1647
slouch1688
sloggering1825
flipperty-flopperty1859
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 207/1 Temptation or Sathan..is drawn with a Dragons head and Wings, to the middle like a Man with slouch hanging Breasts.
1709 London Gaz. No. 4540/8 A..Bay Gelding,..hath large slouch Ears.
1829 H. Widowson Present State Van Diemen's Land 142 A very large head, Roman nose, slouch ears.
2. dialect. Clownish, loutish; slovenly. Also in combinations.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective]
sweerc725
foridledc1230
idlea1300
faintc1325
recrayed1340
slewful1340
nicea1398
sleuthya1400
delicate?c1400
sleuthfulc1400
slothfulc1400
sloth1412
lurdanc1480
luskinga1500
luskish15..
droning1509
bumbard?a1513
slottery1513
desidiousa1540
lazy1549
slovening1549
truanta1550
sleuth1567
litherly1573
truantly1579
dronish1580
lubberly1580
truant-like1583
shiftless1584
sluggard1594
fat1598
lusky1604
sweatless1606
clumse1611
easeful1611
loselly1611
do-littlea1613
sluggardisha1627
pigritious1638
drony1653
murcid1656
thokisha1682
shammockinga1704
indolent1710
huddroun1721
nothing-doing1724
desidiose1727
lusk1775
slack-twisted1794
sweert1817
bone-lazya1825
lurgy1828
straight-backed1830
do-nothing1832
slobbish1833
bone idle1836
slouch1837
lotophagous1841
shammocky1841
bein1847
thoky1847
lotus-eating1852
fainéant1855
sluggardly1865
lazy-boned1875
do-naught1879
easy-going1879
lazyish1892
slobbed1962
1837 W. Thornber Hist. Blackpool 110.
1886 Spectator 1587 An educated loafer, the aimless, shiftless, slouch-souled dependant.
3. Slouched. (Cf. slouch hat n.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [adjective] > hat > having a brim > with brim which hangs over face
slouching1691
slouch1812
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [adjective] > woman's bonnet
slouch1844
poked1871
1812 E. Weeton Let. 15 June (1969) II. 34 I had on a small slouch straw hat, a grey stuff jacket, and petticoat.
1844 L. S. Costello Béarn & Pyrenees: Legendary Tour I. x. 179 All the bathers..were in cloaks and slouch bonnets.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
slouchv.
/slaʊtʃ/, U.S. /slaʊtʃ/ 1. figurative.1880 Times 30 Aug. 4/3 They slouched through their lives with a look of cheerful ignorance on their faces.
a. intransitive. To move or walk with a slouch or in a loose and stooping attitude. Const. with adverbs or prepositions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > with stooping attitude
snudge1677
slouch1743
1743 H. Fielding Jonathan Wild i. xiv, in Misc. III. 85 They with lank Ears and Tails slouch sullenly on.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. ii. 24 The circumstance of slouching through mire.
a1845 R. H. Barham Jerry Jarvis's Wig in Ingoldsby Legends (1847) 3rd Ser. 326 In a few minutes his tiny figure was seen ‘slouching’ up the ascent.
1862 G. A. Sala Seven Sons Mammon II. vii. 179 He slouched to and fro on his beat in the dockyard.
1886 J. K. Jerome Idle Thoughts 42 A genuine idler..is not a man who slouches about with his hands in his pockets.
b. To carry oneself with a slouch or stoop; to droop the head and shoulders.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of bending > bend [verb (intransitive)] > in a slouch
slouch1755
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Slouch, to have a downcast clownish look.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue To slouch, to hang down one's head.
1884 Cambr. Rev. 10 Dec. 131 He slouched over his oar very badly at the finish.
1900 E. Glyn Visits of Elizabeth (1906) 54 I am going to be like her, and not like the women at Nazeby (who all slouched).
c. Of a hat: To hang down, droop.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [verb (intransitive)] > of a hat: droop
slouch1818
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 113 Even the old hat looked smarter;..instead of slouching backward or forward on the Laird's head [etc.].
1845 R. Browning Flight of Duchess x, in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 14/1 What signified hats if they had no rims on, Each slouching before and behind like the scallop?
2.
a. transitive. To put on, or pull down, (one's hat) in such a way that it partly conceals the face.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > adjust or arrange > hat
to cock one's hat1628
flap1751
slouch1766
slap1782
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality I. vii. 297 Slouching my hat, I slid out of doors.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 67 The villains wore their hats much slouched.
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor viii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. I. 238 His hat was unlooped and slouched.
1828–32 in N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. ; hence in later Dicts. ]
b. Const. over (the face, brow, etc.).
ΚΠ
1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London I. vii. 165 Slouching his hat over his face, he motioned Edward..to depart.
1858 E. Bulwer-Lytton What will he do with It? ii. xiv He wore a large hat of foreign make, slouched deep over his brow.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 41 [He] slouched down his hat Yet farther o'er his brows.
3.
a. To go or make (one's way) in a slouching manner. In quot. 1861 figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > tread in a leisurely or careless manner
mooch1851
slouch1861
saunter1970
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner ix. 134 Having slouched their way through life with a consciousness of being in the vicinity of their ‘betters’.
b. To stoop or bend (the shoulders).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of bending > bend [verb (transitive)] > specific part of body
clitchc1025
foldc1380
flexa1521
clutch1614
hingea1616
stoop1637
cock1698
cower1790
slouch1866
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. xi. 170 The Wake slouched his shoulders; and looked as mean a churl as ever.
c. To make (a bow) with a slouch or stoop.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for > bow or curtsey to > by slouch or stoop
slouch1895
1895 G. Meredith Amazing Marriage I. viii. 89 Woodseer passed him, slouching a bow.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.?1518
adj.1688v.1743