from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Slough \Slough\, n. [OE. slogh, slough, AS. sl[=o]h a hollow
place; cf. MHG. sl[=u]ch an abyss, gullet, G. schlucken to
swallow; also Gael. & Ir. sloc a pit, pool. ditch, Ir. slug
to swallow. Gr. ????? to hiccough, to sob.]
1. A place of deep mud or mire; a hole full of mire.
--Chaucer.
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He's here stuck in a slough. --Milton.
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2. [Pronounced sl[=oo].] A wet place; a swale; a side channel
or inlet from a river.
Note: [In this sense local or provincial; also spelt {sloo},
and {slue}.]
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{Slough grass} (Bot.), a name in the Mississippi valley for
grasses of the genus {Muhlenbergia}; -- called also {drop
seed}, and {nimble Will}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Nimble \Nim"ble\ (n[i^]m"b'l), a. [Compar. {Nimbler}
(n[i^]m"bl[~e]r); superl. {Nimblest} (n[i^]m"bl[e^]st).] [OE.
nimel, prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS.
niman; akin to D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema,
Goth. nima, and prob. to Gr. ne`mein to distribute. [root] 7.
Cf. {Nomand}, {Numb}.]
Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity;
lively; swift.
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Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. --Pope.
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Note: Nimble is sometimes used in the formation of
self-explaining compounds; as, nimble-footed,
nimble-pinioned, nimble-winged, etc.
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{Nimble Will} (Bot.), a slender, branching, American grass
({Muhlenbergia diffusa}), of some repute for grazing
purposes in the Mississippi valley.
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Syn: Agile; quick; active; brisk; lively; prompt.
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