slue1
or slew
[sloo]
- to turn (a mast or other spar) around on its own axis, or without removing it from its place.
- to swing around.
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- to turn about; swing around.
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- the act of sluing.
- a position slued to.
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Origin of slue1
First recorded in 1760–70; origin uncertain
slue2
[sloo]
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slue3
[sloo]
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slew2
or slue
[sloo]
- a large number or quantity: a whole slew of people.
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Origin of slew2
1830–40, Americanism; < Irish sluagh crowd, throng, army, host
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
swerveglidedriftslipveerdeflectstrayskidlurchdeclineplummetrecedetumblesagslumpspiralreachplungesinkfallExamples from the Web for slue
Historical Examples
In which towne he slue the bishop, bicause he was a Burgognian.
"You don't need to say anything about this to Slue Foot," cautioned the boy.
Connie Morgan in the Lumber CampsJames B. Hendryx
It was Slue Foot, and he brought 'em a grub stake and some blankets.
Connie Morgan in the Lumber CampsJames B. Hendryx
We want to make as good a showin' as we kin this year, Slue Foot.
Connie Morgan in the Lumber CampsJames B. Hendryx
The man that's doing the double crossing is Slue Foot Magee.
Connie Morgan in the Lumber CampsJames B. Hendryx
slue1
- a variant spelling (esp US) of slew 2
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slue2
- a variant spelling of slough 1 (def. 2)
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slue3
- US informal a variant spelling of slew 4
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slew1
- the past tense of slay
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slew2
esp US slue
- to twist or be twisted sideways, esp awkwardlyhe slewed around in his chair
- nautical to cause (a mast) to rotate in its step or (of a mast) to rotate in its step
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- the act of slewing
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Word Origin
C18: of unknown origin
slew3
- a variant spelling (esp US) of slough 1 (def. 2)
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slew4
slue
- informal, mainly US and Canadian a great number or amount; a lot
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Word Origin
C20: from Irish Gaelic sluagh; related to Old Irish slōg army
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for slue
slew
n.1
"swampy place," 1708, North American variant of slough.
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slew
v.
"to turn, swing, twist," 1834, earlier slue (1769), a nautical word, of unknown origin. Slewed (1801) is old nautical slang for "drunk." Slew-foot "clumsy person who walks with feet turned out" is from 1896.
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slew
n.2
"large number," 1839, from Irish sluagh "a host, crowd, multitude," from Celtic and Balto-Slavic *sloug- "help, service" (see slogan).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper