Slow coach

Slow coach
Slow Slow (sl[=o]), a. [Compar. {Slower} (sl[=o]"[~e]r); superl. {Slowest}.] [OE. slow, slaw, AS. sl[=a]w; akin to OS. sl[=e]u blunt, dull, D. sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. sl[=e]o blunt, dull, Icel. sl[=o]r, sl[ae]r, Dan. sl["o]v, Sw. sl["o]. Cf. {Sloe}, and {Sloth}.] 1. Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion. [1913 Webster]

2. Not happening in a short time; gradual; late. [1913 Webster]

These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue. [1913 Webster]

Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive. [1913 Webster]

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding. --Prov. xiv. 29. [1913 Webster]

5. Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow. [1913 Webster]

6. Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences. [1913 Webster]

7. Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull. [Colloq.] --Dickens. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

Note: Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as, slow-gaited, slow-paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like. [1913 Webster]

{Slow coach}, a slow person. See def.7, above. [Colloq.]

{Slow lemur}, or {Slow loris} (Zo["o]l.), an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal ({Nycticebus tardigradus}) about the size of a small cat; -- so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also {bashful Billy}.

{Slow match}. See under {Match}. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive.

Usage: {Slow}, {Tardy}, {Dilatory}. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behind hand; as, tardy in making up one's acounts. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • slow-coach —    Used in informal British speech to scmeone who seems to be moving too slowly. The American equivalent is ‘slowpoke’. Dickens seems to have been the first to use the slow coach metaphor, applying it to Mr Pickwick. Later, in Martin Chuzzlewit,… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • slow coach — noun : one who is slow or is lethargic in temperament : one who thinks or moves slowly * * * slow coach, Informal. 1. a slowpoke. 2. an idle, inactive person. 3. an old fashioned person; fogy …   Useful english dictionary

  • slow coach — slow person …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Slow coach — lagging behind, slow, lazy person …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • slow coach — Australian Slang lagging behind, slow, lazy person …   English dialects glossary

  • slow-coach —  Person who lags behind …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • slow·coach — …   Useful english dictionary

  • slow-coach — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Slow Poke — is a popular song. It is credited to three writers: Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart, and Chilton Price. Actually Price wrote the song in 1951, as she thought the song described her friend, King, very well. King recorded the song and Stewart did the… …   Wikipedia

  • Slow — (sl[=o]), a. [Compar. {Slower} (sl[=o] [ e]r); superl. {Slowest}.] [OE. slow, slaw, AS. sl[=a]w; akin to OS. sl[=e]u blunt, dull, D. sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. sl[=e]o blunt, dull, Icel. sl[=o]r, sl[ae]r, Dan. sl[ o]v, Sw. sl[ o]. Cf. {Sloe}, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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