Sloth

Sloth Sloth, n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl?w?, fr. sl[=a]w slow. See {Slow}.] 1. Slowness; tardiness. [1913 Webster]

These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness. [1913 Webster]

[They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]

3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family {Bradypodid[ae]}, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of {Edentata}), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico. [1913 Webster]

Note: The three-toed sloths belong to the genera {Bradypus} and {Arctopithecus}, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth ({Bradypus tridactylus}), and the ai ({Arctopitheus ai}). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus {Cholopus}, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau ({Cholopus didactylus}) of South America. See {Unau}. Another species ({C. Hoffmanni}) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths. [1913 Webster]

{Australian sloth}, or {Native sloth} (Zo["o]l.), the koala.

{Sloth animalcule} (Zo["o]l.), a tardigrade.

{Sloth bear} (Zo["o]l.), a black or brown long-haired bear ({Melursus ursinus}, or {Melursus labiatus}), native of India and Ceylon; -- called also {aswail}, {labiated bear}, and {jungle bear}. It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks.

{Sloth monkey} (Zo["o]l.), a loris. [1913 Webster]