Chapter Sleepers to Slowboy of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Slip, the valet of young Harlowe (son of sir Harry Harlowe, of Dorsetshire). He schemes with Martin, a fellow-servant, to contract a marriage between Martin and Miss Stockwell (daughter of a wealthy merchant), in order to get possession of L 10,000, the wedding portion. The plan was this: Martin was to pass himself off as young Harlowe, and marry the lady or secure the dot; but Jenny (Miss Stockwell’s maid) informs Belford, the lover of Miss Stockwell, and he arrests the two knaves just in time to prevent mischief.—Garrick: Neck or Nothing (1766).

Slippers which enabled the feet to walk, knives that cut of themselves, and sabres which dealt blows at a wish, were presents brought to Vathek by a hideous monster without a name.—Beckford: Vathek (1784).

Slippery Sam, a highwayman in captain Macheath’s gang. Peachum says he should dismiss him, because “the villain hath the impudence to have views of following his trade as a tailor, which he calls an honest employment.”—Gay: The Beggar’s Opera, i. (1727).

Slipslop (Mrs.), a lady of frail morals.—Fielding: Joseph Andrews (1742).

Slo-Fair, Chichester, the October fair, when the beasts were sold for slaughter, that they might be salted down for winter use. The next month (November) was called Blot-monath or “Bloodmonth,” being the time when the beasts were killed. (Old English, sléan, slóh, “to slaughter;” blóto, “blood, sacrifice,” from blótan, “to shed blood.”)

Some idea may be gathered of the enormous number of animals salted down in November, from the mere residue left in the larder of the elder Spencer, in May, 1327. There were “80 salted beeves, 500 bacons, and 600 muttons.”

Slop (Dr.), sir John Stoddart, M.D., editor of the New Times, who entertained an insane hatred of Napoleon Bonaparte, called by him “The Corsican Fiend.” William Hone devised the name from Stoddart’s book entitled Slop’s Shave at a Broken Hone (1820), and Thomas Moore helped to popularize it (1773–1856).

Slop (Dr.), a choleric, enthusiastic, and bigoted physician. He breaks down Tristram’s nose, and crushes uncle Toby’s fingers to a jelly in attempting to demonstrate the use and virtues of a newly invented pair of obstetrical forceps.—Sterne: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759).

(Under this name, Sterne ridiculed Dr. Burton, a man-midwife of York.)

Slopard (Dame), wife of Grimbard the brock or badger, in the beast-epic of Reynard the Fox (1498).

Sloppy, a love-child brought up by Betty Higden, for whom he turned the mangle. When Betty died, Mr. Boffin apprenticed him to a cabinet-maker. Sloppy is described as “a very long boy, with a very little head, and an open mouth of disproportionate capacity that seemed to assist his eyes in staring.” It is hinted that he became “the prince” of Jenny Wren, the dolls’ dressmaker.

Of an ungainly make was Sloppy. There was too much of him longwise, too little of him broadwise, and too many sharp angles of him angle-wise.… He had a considerable capital of knee, and elbow, and wrist, and ankle. Full-private Number One in the awkward squad was Sloppy.—Dickens: Our Mutual Friend, I. i. 16 (1864).

Slough of Despond (The), a deep bog, which Christian had to pass on his way to the Wicket Gate. Neighbour Pliable would not attempt to pass it, and turned back. While Christian was floundering in the slough, Help came to his aid, and assisted him over.

The name of the slough was Despond. Here they wallowed for a time, and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink into the mire. This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended. It is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction of sin doth continually