▪ I. † sletch
obs. var. of sleech n. or slitch.
| 1743 Maxwell Ser. Trans. 44 Sea-sletch, Clay and Lime. Ibid. 125 Indeed they chuse to have Mud with the Sand, and this they call Sletch. |
▪ II. sletch, v. rare. Now dial.
(slɛtʃ)
Also 5 slech; pa. tense sleghte.
[repr. OE. slæccan (also á-, ᵹeslæccan), f. slæc slack a. Cf. OS. slekkian to weaken, Norw. slekkja to slacken (a cord, etc.).]
† 1. trans. To render slack or relaxed; to assuage, mitigate. Obs. rare.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2675 Lordes lenande lowe on lemand scheldes,..And some was sleghte one slepe with slaughte of þe pople. a 1500 Tale of Basyn 47 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 46 [Go] To the parson thi broder, that is so rich a wrech, And pray hym of thi sorow sum del he wold slech. |
2. intr. To abate, slacken, stop. dial.
| 1847 in Halliwell (I. Wight). 1881 Isle of Wight Gloss. s.v., It raained aal day without sletchun. |