I. ˈslad.ə(r)n, -atə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably modification of German schlottern to hang loosely, waddle, slouch (taken as a noun), from Middle High German slottern, slattern, sluttern; akin to Dutch slodderen to hang loosely, slodder slovenly person, slut, Icelandic sludda clod of spittle, slydda sleet, slush, Middle High German slote mud, slime, sloten to stagger, shake, Old Norse slothra to drag oneself forward, Gothic af slauthjan to be anguished, shaken and probably to Middle English sloor mud — more at slur
1. : a person who is negligent of his appearance or surroundings ; especially : an untidy slovenly woman
two blowzy waitresses … slatterns whose off-white aprons blended perfectly with their pasty cheeks — John Wain
2. : slut , prostitute
there was a slattern or two … ladies of the profession — Bruce Marshall
II. adjective
: slatternly
slattern hovels
their gray slattern bodies — Liam O'Flaherty
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to fritter away : waste — usually used with away
every fool who slatterns away his whole time in nothings — Earl of Chesterfield
intransitive verb
: to move or act in a slatternly manner