▪ I. sleat, v.1 Obs. exc. dial.
(sliːt)
Forms: 1 slætan, 3 slæten, slat-, 3, 7 slete, 8–9 sleet, 9 sleeat. Also pa. tense 1 slætte, 3 sle(a)tte, 9 slett; pa. pple. 4 slat.
[OE. slǽtan, f. slát- pret. stem of sl{iacu}tan slite v., corresponding to ON. *sleita, whence slate v.3]
† 1. trans. To bait (an animal) with dogs. Obs.
| c 1000 ælfric Lives Saints xii. 72 Man slætte þa ænne fearr feringa þær-ute, and se fear arn him toᵹeanes. a 1225 Juliana 52 (Royal MS.), Heo..sletten him wið hundes ant leiden to wið honden. a 1300 Vox & Wolf 289 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 67 Tho hede the wreche fomen i-nowe, That weren egre him to slete Mid grete houndes. |
† 2. intr. To hunt after something. Obs.—1
| c 1200 Ormin 13485 Þatt time þatt teȝȝ [the apostles] tokenn swa To slætenn affterr sawless. |
3. trans. To incite, set on (a dog, etc.).
| a 1225 Juliana 53 (Bodl. MS.), Heo..sleatten on him hundes. 14.. 26 Polit. Poems ix. 22 Synne to bay many a folde On soules helle houndes slete. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 43 To Slete a dog, is to set him at anything as swine, sheep, &c. 1703 Thoresby Let. to Ray, To Sleat a Dog. 1878 Yorkshireman Nov. 394 (E.D.D.), I tuke a delight i' sleatin' 'em at one another. 1886 Rochdale Gloss. 80 Sleat, to send or urge, as a dog at cattle, particularly sheep. |
Hence ˈsleating vbl. n., hunting; also fig., baiting, instigation.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud) an. 1087, ælc unriht ᵹeold he forbead, & ᵹeatte mannan heora wudas and slætinge. c 1205 Lay. 12326 Þus Gratien þe king for ut an slæting. Ibid. 29170 Hit was in ane dæie, þat Gurmund mid his duȝeðe..riden a slatinge. c 1400 Destr. Troy 196 Pelleus..printed in hert Iff he might sleghly be sleght & sletyng of wordes, Gar Iason..the iorney vndertake. |
▪ II. † sleat, v.2 Obs.—1
? var. of slat v.2
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 212 Hwon heo ihereð þet god, heo sleateð adun boa two hore earen. |