I. ˈslau̇ch noun
( -es )
Etymology: origin unknown
1.
a. : an awkward clownish fellow : lout
b. : one devoid of energy, ambition, or competence : an inefficient person : loafer , incompetent
the slouch whom military drill has transformed into a man — Calvin Coolidge
if you're only a clerk, you'll have to yield precedence to the slouch who holds the post of manager — M.F.A.Montagu
— often used in negative constructions
no slouch as a comedian
no slouch at conversation
a dancer who is no slouch on his feet
2. : a gait or posture characterized by ungainly stooping of head and shoulders or undue relaxation of body muscles
walked with shut lips and cold, cruel bearing, that had something of a slouch and a sneer in it — D.H.Lawrence
all the regular prisoners had the same hollow-gutted slouch — R.O.Bowen
3. : slouch hat
4. : laziness , shiftlessness
saw among them a good deal of slouch — mental, moral, and physical slouch — A.W.Long
II. adjective
1. : drooping , pendulous
slouch ears
2. : slouching , slouchy
he slams slouch scribes — A.L.Hench
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
intransitive verb
1. : to move, walk, stand, or sit with a slouch : assume or drop into a slouch : slump
the cur dog slouching across the road — American Guide Series: Tennessee
slouched over to the telephone — S.H.Adams
slouched behind the wheel — J.P.Marquand
some of the others slouched on the table around him — Vincent McHugh
2. : to hand down flaccidly : droop
a hat with a brim that slouches
transitive verb
1. : to cause to hang down or droop
slouch the hat over the eyes
2. : to make in a slouching manner
slouched his way along
3. : to cause (the shoulders) to stoop
his head drooped forward, his shoulders were slouched down — O.E.Rölvaag
IV. ˈslüch noun
( -es )
Etymology: probably from slouch (I)
: a pipe by which an engine takes up water