slough
Noun · VerbWordNet 3.0
Noun (4)
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Slough \Slough\, n. [OE. slugh, slouh; cf. MHG. sl?ch the skin of a serpent, G. schlauch a skin, a leather bag or bottle.]
1.The skin, commonly the cast-off skin, of a serpent or of some similar animal. [1913 Webster]
2.(Med.) The dead mass separating from a foul sore; the dead part which separates from the living tissue in mortification. [1913 Webster]
Slough \Slough\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sloughed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sloughing.] (Med.) To form a slough; to separate in the form of dead matter from the living tissues; -- often used with off, or away; as, a sloughing ulcer; the dead tissues slough off slowly. [1913 Webster]
Slough \Slough\, a. Slow. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
He's here stuck in a slough.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
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.] [1913 Webster]
Slough grass (Bot.), a name in the Mississippi valley for grasses of the genus Muhlenbergia; -- called also drop seed, and nimble Will. [1913 Webster]
Slough \Slough\, v. t. To cast off; to discard as refuse. [1913 Webster]
New tint the plumage of the birds, And slough decay from grazing herds. --Emerson. [1913 Webster]