Part 474

As it [Nilus] ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain.

Shak.

2. Any mucilaginous substance; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive.

3. (Script.) Bitumen. [Archaic]

Slime had they for mortar.

Gen. xi. 3.

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4. pl. (Mining) Mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the preparatory dressing. Pryce.

5. (Physiol.) A mucuslike substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals. Goldsmith.

Slime eel. (Zoöl.) See 1st Hag, 4. -- Slime pit, a pit for the collection of slime or bitumen.

Slime (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sliming.] To smear with slime. Tennyson.

Slim"i*ly (?), adv. In a slimy manner.

Slim"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being slimy.

Slim"ly (?), adv. In a state of slimness; in a slim manner; slenderly.

Slim"ness, n. The quality or state of being slim.

Slim"sy (?), a. Flimsy; frail. [Colloq. U.S.]

Slim"y (?), a. [Compar. Slimier (?); superl. Slimiest.] Of or pertaining to slime; resembling slime; of the nature of slime; viscous; glutinous; also, covered or daubed with slime; yielding, or abounding in, slime.

Slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.

Coleridge.

Sli"ness (?), n. See Slyness.

Sling (?), n. [OE. slinge; akin to OD. slinge, D. slinger, OHG. slinga; cf. OF. eslingue, of German origin. See Sling, v. t.] 1. An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other. The missile being lodged in a hole in the strap, the ends of the string are taken in the hand, and the whole whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.

2. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Shak.

At one sling Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son.

Milton.

3. A contrivance for sustaining anything by suspension; as: (a) A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported. (b) A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering. (c) A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder. (d) (Naut.) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; -- chiefly in the plural.

Sling cart, a kind of cart used to transport cannon and their carriages, large stones, machines, etc., the objects transported being slung, or suspended by a chain attached to the axletree. -- Sling dog, one of a pair of iron hooks used as part of a sling. See def. 3 (b) above.