Chapter Skeffington to Sleary of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Slander, an old hag, of “ragged, rude attyre, and filthy lockes,” who sucked venom out of her nails. It was her duty to abuse all goodness, to frame groundless charges, to “steale away the crowne of a good name,” and “never thing so well was doen, but she with blame would blot, and of due praise deprive.”

A foule and loathly creature sure in sight,
And in conditions to be loathed no lesse;
For she was stuft with rancour and despight
Up to the throat, that oft with bitternesse
It forth would breake and gush in great excesse,
Pouring out streams of poyson and of gall
’Gainst all that truth or vertue doe professe,
Whom she with leasings lewdly did miscall.
And wickedly backbite. Her name men “Sclaunder
call.
   —Spenser: Faërie Queene, IV. viii. 24(1596).

Slang, from Slangenberg, a Dutch general, noted for his abusive and exaggerated epithets when he reproved the men under his command. The etymon is suited to the dictionary, and the following are not without wit: Italian, s-lingua, s negative and lingua = “bad language;” French, esclandre, “an event which gives rise to scandal,” hence, faire esclandre, “to expose one to scandal,” causer de l’escadre, “to give ground for scandal;” Greek, skandalon, “an offence, a scandal.” “Slangs,” fetters for malefactors.

Slango, a lad, servant of Gaylove a young barrister. He dresses up as a woman, and when squire Sapskull comes from Yorkshire for a wife, Slango passes himself off as Arbella. In the mean time, Gaylove assumes the airs and manners of a Yorkshire tike, and marries Arbella, with whom he is in love.—Carey: The Honest Yorkshireman (1736).

Slawken-Bergius (Hafen); an imaginary author, distinguished for the great length of his nose. In the Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (by Sterne), Slawken-Bergius is referred to as a great authority on all lore connected with noses, and a curious tale is introduced from his hypothetical works about a man with an enormously long nose.

No nose can be justly amputated by the public, not even the nose of Slawken-Bergius himself.—Carlyle.

Slaygood (Giant), master of a gang of thieves which infested the King’s highway. Mr. Greatheart slew him, and rescued Feeblemind from his grasp in a duel.—Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).

Sleary, proprietor of the circus at Coketown. A stout man, with one eye fixed and one loose, a voice like the efforts of a broken pair of bellows, a flabby skin, and muddled head. He was never sober and never drunk, but always kind-hearted. Tom Gradgrind, after robbing the bank, lay concealed in this circus as a black servant, till Sleary connived at his escape. This Sleary did in gratitude to Thomas Gradgrind, Esq., M. P., who adopted and educated Cecilia Jupe, daughter of his clown, signor Jupe.

Josephine Sleary, daughter of the circus proprietor, a pretty girl of 18, who had been tied on a horse at two years old, and had made a will at 12. This will she carried about with her, and in it she signified her desire to be drawn to the grave by two piebald ponies. Josephine married E. W. B. Childers of her father’s circus.—Dickens: Hard Times (1854).