Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SLAB, v.2 †1. intr. To slaver, esp. when at one's food, to eat or drink in a messy, untidy way, to slobber. Freq. form Slabber, q.v.Sc. 1729 W. Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 111:
The Earl was for Diversion's Sake brought to see the Orphans slabbing at their Trough.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 40:
To slab an' slucher wi' their mou's an' cheeks.
2. tr. (1) with up: to suck in noisily with one's lips, to lap up in a messy, greedy manner (Bnff. 1825 Jam.). Hence slabber, a greedy person, in gen. as well as with food (Kcd. Ags., 1970, a greedy slabber).Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 173:
Lang may ye blow the reamin ale . . . While I slab up my barefit kale.
(2) to daub or besmear with a liquid. Vbl.n. slabing, a daubing or besmearing, an untidy splashing, a wet and unpleasant mess. Deriv. slabby, adj., of weather: wet, squally; of roads or the ground: wet and muddy, waterlogged (Sc. 1887 Jam.). Cf. slabbery, id., s.v. Slabber. Also in n.Eng. dial.Per. 1757 Atholl MSS.:
The plaister[er]s makes a very greate slabing with water.
