slawk north. dial. and Sc.
(slɑk)
Also 5, 8 slauk, 6–7, 9 slauke, 6 slawke, 9 slaak.
[Probably ad. Ir. slabhac, sleabhac (also dim. sleabhacán, Sc. Gael. slabhgan) in sense 1: cf. the Gaelic origin of dulse. For variant forms see slake n.2, slaugh, and sloke.
In older Dicts. frequently misprinted slank(e.]
1. An edible sea-weed (see quot. 1892).
| c 1450 MS. Ee. 4. 20 (Camb. Univ. Lib.) fol. 283, Hec herba vocatur a vulgo slauk. 1548 Turner Names Herbes 21 The other kynde is described..to haue leaues lyke letties, and thys kynde is called in englishe slauke. 1562 ― Herbal ii. (1568) 76 The bryon thalassion of Theophrastus and Pliny is called in Northumberland slauke: whych in lent the poore people sethe..and eat it. 1577 Harrison Descr. Brit. x. in Holinshed 41 Having well doonged it in the meane time with slawke of the sea, they sowe barleie. 1758 Borlase Nat. Hist. Cornw. 236 Lichen marinus, the laver, slauk, and by the Irish called Slukane. 1892 Heslop Northumb. Gloss., Slauke, the seaweed green laver, Ulva lactuca and U. latissima. |
2. A kind of brook- or river-weed.
| 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. 135 His haurns wi' slawk and sludge war muddy. 1861 H. Macmillan Footnotes fr. Nature 127 That green slimy matter..to which in Scotland the expressive name of slaak has been applied. 1884 G. S. Streatfeild Linc. & Danes 360 Slawk, slimy weeds found in drains. |