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.
Quotation dates: 1918
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SLUDDER, v., n. Also sluther. [′slʌdər, -ðer. See D, 4.]
I. v. 1. To swallow (food, etc.) noisily, to gulp down (food or drink) (Sc. 1808 Jam., Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., sluther). Also used intr. Also fig., to swallow or slur one's words (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Cf. Slidder.
2. To move or carry out work carelessly or messily, to walk clumsily, "with a heavy heaving gait" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 169); to act in a slovenly manner (Sc. 1825 Jam., sluther). Comb. sluther bane, n., a lazy slut, a sloven (Abd.19 1930). Also attrib. and in ppl.adj. form sludderban(e)d, untidy, sluttish (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.).
II. n. 1. (1) Any wet or slimy substance, mud, mire, filth (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.); a mass of such substance, a quagmire, morass (Sc. 1825 Jam., sluther). Hence sluddery, sluthery, adj., of food: sloppy, soft, flaccid (Fif. 1808 Jam.); (2) a large quantity or heap of anything (Sh. 1878 E.D.D.).(1) Slk. 1918 Border Mag. (Jan.) 16:
As I crossed a "sluther," walking gingerly, as if on thin ice.
2. A dirty messy job or task; a piece of carelessly or slatternly done work (Cld. 1880 Jam., sluther).
3. A slovenly person, a slut (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., sluther).
[Also in Eng. dial. Cf. Mid. Du. sludder, a sloven, sluddern, to be weak, soft and flabby, L.Ger. schluddern, schloddern, id., sluder, a dazed, weary state.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Sludder v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sludder>
