australian sloth

Sloth \Sloth\, n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl?w?, fr. sl[=a]w
   slow. See {Slow}.]
   1. Slowness; tardiness.
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            These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor
            This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. --Shak.
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   2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness;
      idleness.
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            [They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and
            sloth.                                --Milton.
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            Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears.
                                                  --Franklin.
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   3. (Zool.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates
      constituting the family {Bradypodidae}, and the suborder
      Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long
      prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see
      Illust. of {Edentata}), and the ears and tail are
      rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and
      Mexico.
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   Note: The three-toed sloths belong to the genera {Bradypus}
         and {Arctopithecus}, of which several species have been
         described. They have three toes on each foot. The
         best-known species are collared sloth ({Bradypus
         tridactylus}), and the ai ({Arctopitheus ai}). The
         two-toed sloths, consisting the genus {Cholopus}, have
         two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot.
         The best-known is the unau ({Cholopus didactylus}) of
         South America. See {Unau}. Another species ({Cholopus
         Hoffmanni}) inhabits Central America.
         Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as
         Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths.
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   {Australian sloth}, or {Native sloth} (Zool.), the koala.

   {Sloth animalcule} (Zool.), a tardigrade.

   {Sloth bear} (Zool.), a black or brown long-haired bear
      ({Melursus ursinus}, or {Melursus labiatus}), native of
      India and Ceylon; -- called also {aswail}, {labiated
      bear}, and {jungle bear}. It is easily tamed and can be
      taught many tricks.

   {Sloth monkey} (Zool.), a loris.
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