Middle English Dictionary Entry
slutte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | slutte n. Also slut(e; pl. slottes. |
| Etymology | ?From OE (WS) *slīet, *slȳt sleet, slush, with root vowel shortened; cp. ME sclot n., slẹ̄t n.(1), slǒude n., Norw. dial. slutr snow mixed with rain. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A dirty or slovenly person, usu. a woman; a lewd or lascivious woman [quot.: ?a1475]; (b) a scullery maid; (c) a beast messy or difficult to prepare as food; (d) ?mud, slush; -- in surnames and place names only [see Smith PNElem.2.128].
Associated quotations
a
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)237 : But maugree hem þat blamen wommen moost..sodeynly We felle can hir boost..It shal nat been in hire elleccioun, The foulest slutte in al a town refuse.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)460 : Slutte: Cenosus, cenosa.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.273 : Ful ferd is hit [cabbage] for touching of vnclene Wymmen -- and slottes y suppose hit mene.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3769 : Demostenes his handes ones putte In a wommannes bosom iapyngly, Of face faire, but of hir body a slutte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)205/150 : Com forth, þou sloveyn; com forth, þou slutte.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)116a : A Slute, vbi foule.
b
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)133 : [a1700: This gentle virgine..was sett to be a servaunte..the quene her toke to make a sl]utte [and to vile services her putt].
c
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)590 : Crabbe is a slutt to kerve & a wrawd wight.
d
- (c1275) Hundred R.Tower 1489 : Rob. Slut.
- (1296) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)30 : Wm. atte Slucte.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1065 : Johanne atte Slutte.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1099 : Willmo de Sluthurst.
- (1474) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)229 : Slutlond.