Part 453

Sky"sail (?), n. (Naut.) The sail set next above the royal. See Illust. under Sail.

Sky"ward (?), a. & adv. Toward the sky.

Slab (?), n. [OE. slabbe, of uncertain origin; perhaps originally meaning, a smooth piece, and akin to slape, Icel. sleipr slippery, and E. slip, v. i.] 1. A thin piece of anything, especially of marble or other stone, having plane surfaces. Gwilt.

2. An outside piece taken from a log or timber in sawing it into boards, planks, etc.

3. (Zoöl.) The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.]

4. (Naut.) The slack part of a sail.

Slab line (Naut.), a line or small rope by which seamen haul up the foot of the mainsail or foresail. Totten.

Slab, a. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. slaib mud, mire left on a river strand, and E. slop puddle.] Thick; viscous. [Obs.]

Make the gruel thick and slab.

Shak.

Slab, n. That which is slimy or viscous; moist earth; mud; also, a puddle. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Slab"ber (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slabbered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slabbering.] [OE. slaberen; akin to LG. & D. slabbern, G. schlabbern, LG. & D. slabben, G. schlabben, Icel. slafra. Cf. Slaver, Slobber, Slubber.] To let saliva or some liquid fall from the mouth carelessly, like a child or an idiot; to drivel; to drool. [Written also slaver, and slobber.]

Slab"ber, v. t. 1. To wet and foul spittle, or as if with spittle.

He slabbered me over, from cheek to cheek, with his great tongue.

Arbuthnot.

2. To spill liquid upon; to smear carelessly; to spill, as liquid foed or drink, in careless eating or drinking.

The milk pan and cream pot so slabbered and tost That butter is wanting and cheese is half lost.

Tusser.

Slab"ber, n. Spittle; saliva; slaver.

Slab"ber (?), n. [See 1st Slab.] (Mach.) (a) A saw for cutting slabs from logs. (b) A slabbing machine.

Slab"ber*er (?), n. One who slabbers, or drools; hence, an idiot.

Slab"ber*y (?), a. Like, or covered with, slabber or slab; slippery; sloppy.

Slab"bi*ness (?), n. Quality of being slabby.

Slab"bing (?), a. [See 1st Slab.] Adapted for forming slabs, or for dressing flat surfaces.

Slabbing machine, a milling machine.

Slab"by (?), a. [Compar. Slabbier (?); superl. Slabbiest.] [See Slab, a.] 1. Thick; viscous.

They present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabby stuff.

Selden.