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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLASH, n., v., adv. Also sklash (Gregor). Sc. form and usages:

I. n. 1. (1) A violent dash or clash, esp. of some wet substance thrown out with force, a splash; a quantity of such (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 159; Sh. 1898 Shetland News (4 June); Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., Bnff., Ags. 1970) or a loud crashing noise so made (Gregor); a large mass of sloppy food (Lth., Lnk. 1825 Jam.). Hence slashy, adj., wet and dirty, of work (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Cld. 1880 Jam.:
A slash o' glaur.Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark Northern Gleams 56:
He rave a feil oot o' da side o' da vent, an' sent hit doon ipo dem wi' a slash.

(2) A fight, scuffle, fracas.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 48:
[War]'s nae an art that country boddies learn, Farther than market slashes may concern.

2. The act of walking forcefully through water or mud, a floundering, splashing on (Gregor).

3. A sloven, slattern, slut, a messy worker (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Deriv. slashy, slatternly, slovenly, of women (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Also as n., a slut (Ib.).

II. v. 1. (1) To throw (liquid) with a splash; to strike with something wet (Uls. 1953 Traynor; I.Sc., Ags., Ayr., Kcb. 1970). By extension, to kiss in a slobbering manner, “a low word used to denote a fond and slubbering mode of kissing” (Sc. 1808 Jam.); phr. to slash and kiss, id. (Ib.).Lth. 1886 J. W. M'Laren T. Catchiron 27:
Liftin' a cup whilk was fu' o' het tea, she slashed the hale o't aboot me.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (28 May):
Shü liftid da wan spüne o' sloom eftir da tidder an' slash'd hit i' da aes.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters v.:
He up wi' a dirty washing-clout and slashed me in the face wi't.

(2) to work in some wet sloppy substance, to puddle about (Lnk. 1825 Jam.)

2. To rush with violence, to dash onwards, to throw violently down (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 159; Sh., Ags. 1970).Sc. a.1813 A. Murray Hist. Eur. Langs. (1823) I. 276:
He slash'd through moor and moss.

III. adv. With a clash or splash, with violence, with a heavy dashing step (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 159; Sh., Ags. 1970).Ayr. 1901 G. Brown Green Shutters iv.:
John let him have the wet lump slash in his mouth.