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 1883. Greenwood, Odd People. Unwashed, and in their working slacks and guernseys.

2. (pugilistic).—A smashing or knock-down blow. [Jack Slack, champion 1750-60, was known for his powerful delivery]. Also Slack-'un: cf. auctioneer and mendoza.

3. (colloquial).—A slack time.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., iii. 237. When there is a slack the merchants are all anxious to get their vessels delivered as fast as they can.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ii. xxi. Though there's a slack we haven't done with sharp work yet, I see.

Verb. (common).—To piss (q.v.): also to slack off.

To hold on the slack, verb. phr. (nautical).—To skulk; to loaf.

Slack-jaw, subs. phr. (American).—Impertinence.

1883. Century Mag., xxxvii. 407. I mought do it fur you, bein' as how ye got so much slack-jaw.

Slag, subs. (old).—'A slack-*mettled fellow, one not ready to resent an affront' (Grose).

Slake, verb. (provincial).—See quot.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words, &c., s.v. Slake 3. To lick vulgarly used in the sense of to kiss.

Slam, subs. (old).—1. A trick (Grose).

2. (cards').—At whist a game lost without scoring: also as verb. = to take every trick: cf. skunk (B. E. and Grose).

[?]. Loyal Songs [Ency. Dict.]. Until a noble general came And gave the cheaters a clean slam.

3. (old).—A sloven: also slamkin (Grose: 'One whose clothes seem hung on with a pitchfork'); and (4) any ill-made, awkward, ungainly wretch.

1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, v. 6. Hoyd. I don't like my lord's shapes, nurse. Nurse. Why in good truly, as a body may say, he is but a slam.

Verb. (common).—1. To brag; spec. (military) to feign drunkenness and boast of many drinks: cf. slum.

2. (strollers').—To patter (q.v.); to talk in the way of trade.

1884. Henley, Villon's Good Night. You swatchel coves that pitch and slam.

Slam-bang. See Slap, adv.

Slamkin (Slammocks, or Slammerkin), subs. (old).—A slut (q.v.). As verb. = to slouch.

Slammer, subs. (colloquial).—Anything exceptional: see Whopper. Hence slamming (adj.) = large, exceptional.

Slampam (Slampaine, Slampambes, or Slampant), subs. (old).—A blow: see Wipe. To cut of (or give the) slampambes = to circumvent; to get the better of.

c.1563. New Custome [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), i. 230]. I wyll cut him of the slampambes, I hold him a crowne, Wherever I meete him, in countrie or towne.

1577-87. Holinshed, Desc. Ireland, iii. That one rascal in such scornefull wise should giue them the slampaine.

1582. Stanyhurst, Æneid [Arber], 116. Shal hee scape thus? shal a stranger geue me the slampan?

Slamtrash, subs. (provincial).—A sloven (Halliwell).

Slaney, subs. (thieves').—A theatre.