520 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
seems, and therefore not to be used ;” though Mason is of opinion, that 
«“ Addison’s —_ it may be deemed a sufficient reply to the supposition of 
its being cant.’ 
SLOSH or SLUSH. (The frst orthography is most conformable to the com- 
mon fironunciation). A low word. ‘This term, and its derivative sloshy, 
(or slushy) are often used by the people of New England, in speaking of 
the state of the roads when they are covered with snow and a thaw 
takes place. It is very common to hear people say—The roads are 
sloshy ; it is very sloshy going, kc. It isnot in any of the English dic- 
tionaries ; but all of them, I believe, except Bailey’s, have the word sludge, 
and define it as Dr. Johnson does—“ Mire, dirt mixed with water.’ Grose 
has s/udge in the same sense, as a frovinciai term, peculiar to the Vorth of 
England. ( Prov. Gloss.) Marshall also has sludge among his Provincial- 
isms of the Midland Counties ; sluss, among those of orfolk, and slush 
among those of Yorkshire ; and he defines them all nearly in the same 
words, Mr. Wedster has sludge, but not slush or slosh. 
To SLUMP ; « to sink or fall into water or mnd, through ice or other hard suT- 
face. New England.” Webst. A colloquial word. « This word (says a re- 
viewer of Mr. Webster’s dictionary) is certainly be ere As ofa ewes in such 
3 work.” Monthly Anthol. vol. vil. p. 264. Loh eh 
‘This is an English provincialism : To slump ; to eye or “fall iis down 
in any wet or dirty place.” Ray’s Worth Country words. This author has 
it also, with the same explanation, among his South and East Country 
words, where he observes that “ it seems to be a word made fer onomato- 
faian from the sound.” Grose copies Ray, but considers the word slum/i 
as peculiar to the North Country, and says, that “in the South, flump is 
used in that sense.” Prov. Gloss. The word slump is in Bailey’s diction- 
ary (where it is marked as a Worth Country word), but it is omitted by John- 
son and the other modern dexiavgraphons; except .4sh, who has it with this 
remark, that it is “ a Zocal word.” 
SLUSH. See Siosh, 
SOCIAL. “In Franklin Place apartments are occupied by the Boston Social 
Library, &e. By social is here intended sServintie 3 for by a perversion of 
