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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SLOO, n., v. Also slu(e). [slu:]

I. n. 1. A layer, of something evenly spread over a surface, specif. of dung applied to land, of turf, or of peat-dross spread over the floor of an animal's stall, a layer of compost (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 202, 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970).Sh. 1898 Shetland News (29 Oct.):
I maun gie da aetin' anes [potatoes in a clamp] anidder sloo o' poans.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He leaved a slu o' hay ahint him.Sh. 1951 Sh. Folk Book II. 3:
Tak a divit aff o' de second slue o' Ole's byre and pit him anunder de kirn.

2. A long, lanky, overgrown person or animal; a sluggish, idle or soft fellow (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970), prob. from the notion of inertness in 1.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 24:
Rise dee wis up, du lazy sloo!Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
A great lang slu o' a boy: a soft slu o' an animal.Sh. 1934 W. Moffatt Shetland 186:
The folk of Unst are Midden Slues, which, being interpreted, signifieth slatterns.

II. v. 1. To spread a thin layer of any substance, esp. of earth, peat-mould, manure or the like on a heap, in a cattle-stall, on land (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 202, 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970). Phr. to sloo a midden, see 1866 quot.Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Slooin a midden, making a compost by placing first a layer of earth, then a layer of byre-manure, and lastly sea-weed, and repeating this.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (10 March):
As muckle as wid sloo a midden.

2. To behave in an idle lazy way, to slouch around in a negligent fashion, to “slack” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.).