slashingn.
1. The action of the verb; cutting; gashing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > [noun]
bita1000
kerfc1000
slittingc1175
carving?c1225
chop1362
cuttinga1398
hacking1398
scissure?a1425
garsingc1440
racing?a1450
incision1474
secting1507
raze1530
chopping1548
scotching1551
hackling1564
slashing1596
carbonadoing1599
kinsing1599
insection1653
secation1656
scission1676
gash1694
inciding1694
haggling1761
cut1808
shear1809
carve1888
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > [noun] > action of cutting
slashing1596
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > wound > cut > action of
concision1382
slashing1596
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [noun] > blow struck with an object or instrument > with a sharp instrument
chop1362
weffea1400
slash1576
slashing1596
cuta1616
slap1688
streak1725
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden Ep. Ded. sig. A2 v Discoursing of his fraies and deep acting of his slashing and hewing.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης iv. 38 Onely to turne his slashing at the Court Gate, to slaughtering in the Field.
1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 13 We were at slashing and pelting with the Hollanders, and they with us.
1782 J. H. St. J. de Crèvecoeur Lett. from Amer. Farmer iii. 81 How do you go on with your new cutting and slashing?
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xxi. 655 Special orders were given..that the swords should be made rather for stabbing than for slashing.
2.
a. The action of making a slit in a garment in order to show the lining or an under-garment of a contrasting colour; the opening thus made.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > [noun] > carrying out specific processes > other
tuckingc1440
sleeving1495
stenting1507
welting1508
furring1554
poignetting1555
bombasing1598
flouncing1766
fulling1810
goring1814
piping1825
slashing1834
collaring1865
gusseting1883
overtrimming1897
post-boarding1952
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > slash or slit
panes1565
slash1615
slashing1882
1834 J. R. Planché Hist. Brit. Costume 221 The elegant fashion of slashing makes its appearance about this time.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 451/2 Pieces of stuff of a different material being sewn under the Slashings.
b. A piece of material inserted in a garment of a different colour to form a contrast.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > inserted piece of fabric > types of
gorec1325
gusset?1577
slashing1842
mitre1882
empiecement1886
interlude1890
godet1923
1842 Illustr. London News 14 May 9/1 The slashing being fully studded..with diamonds, rubies, emeralds.
1887 Sporting Life (Philadelphia) 2 July 3/1 A dress of creamy white material with a pale pink slashing.
1888 Athenæum 27 Oct. 551/3 Brocaded trains gleaming fitfully with slashings of exquisite pink.
3. A heavy downpour of rain.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > rain > [noun] > a or the fall of rain > downpour
floodc1275
spate1513
spout1554
gourder1565
squata1640
downpouring1669
deluge1720
pash1722
plout1740
on-ding1776
pelt1785
soaker1789
pelter1791
teem1793
pour1794
oncome1808
downpour1811
plash1820
slashing1829
plungec1841
dispunging1876
steeper1878
splurge1879
soak1891
drencher1892
toad-strangler1938
1829 A. M. Hall Sketches Irish Char. II. 50 The rain fell in slashings, like hail.
4. North American.
a. The action of felling trees, esp. as a preliminary to clearing a tract of forest by burning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > felling trees
fallinga1425
felling1447
fell1531
fall1535
woodfall1588
slaughter1657
logging1706
tree-felling1759
fallage1788
slashing1822
fellage1839
wood-cutting1872
throw1879
bush-falling1882
drive1899
bushwhacking1906
clear-cutting1922
coupe1922
landnam1950
1822 Port Folio XIII. 68 The act of hewing down the timber is called slashing.
1833 A. Fergusson Pract. Notes 42 A mode of chopping is in use hereabouts, termed slashing. It consists in merely prostrating the trees, without any further operation for a season, and then at leisure consuming the whole by fire.
1899 W. A. MacKay Pioneer Life in Zorra 167 There were three ways by which the first settlers cleared the land. The first was called ‘slashing’.
1963 E. C. Guillet Pioneer Farmer I. 309 Another easy and cheap method was ‘slashing’..felling the trees and allowing them to stay where they fell for a season or two.
b. = slash n.1 4a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > clearing > made by storm
hurricane1735
slashing1840
1840 Jamestown (N.Y.) Jrnl. 1 July 2/5 On Monday, the body of Mr. Brown was found in a slashing.
1857 O. W. Wight Quinland I. i. ii. 34 When it came dry in the spring, we burned the ‘slashing’ we had made the previous summer.
1864 O. W. Norton Army Lett. 211 Imagine a slashing of five hundred acres with an impassable swamp on each side.
1894 Outing 24 186/2 When we got into a spruce thicket or an old ‘slashing’—the track of a hurricane.
1912 ‘R. Connor’ Corporal Cameron 269 At the ‘slashing’ the wagon ruts faded out and the road narrowed to a single cow path.
1920 C. Phillipps-Wolley Songs Young Man's Land 91 Are you hiding from us, Springtime, hiding in the slashing?
c. = slash n.1 4b. Frequently plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > felled trees, debris, or tree stumps remaining
stob1321
slash1841
slashing1864
sloven1946
1864 T. Weed in T. L. Nichols 40 Yrs. Amer. Life II. 215 Cattle..were turned out to ‘browse’ in the ‘slashings’.
1928 P. A. Taverner Ornithol. Invest. near Belvedere, Alberta 104 Mountain Bluebird, not uncommon in the burnt spruce and slashings, but scarce elsewhere.
1964 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 20 Sept. 5/2 Another small fire was burning in slashing on the west side of Reef Point.
1980 Northeast Woods & Waters Dec. 7/3 It headed into a small swamp made up of very thick and very low alders, criss-crossed with blowdowns and slashings.
5. The sizing of yarn by means of a slasher (sense 4) (see also quot. 1960).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > sizing
slashing1895
1895 R. Marsden Cotton Weaving 514 Blackburn prices for Tape-sizeing or Slashing.
1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §369 Dresser,..one who prepares delicate and fine yarns by passing them through sizing or slashing frame.
1927 T. Woodhouse Artif. Silk 112 Other machines..differ essentially from the slashing and ordinary sizing machines.
1960 Textile Terms & Definitions (Textile Inst.) (ed. 4) 136 Slashing,..(1) A synonym for slasher sizing. (2) This term has also been adopted to indicate the process which is used to reduce the extensibility of rayon yarns... The process consists in stretching the yarn in the wet state and then drying it while maintaining the stretched length.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
slashingadj.
1. Severely critical; cuttingly sarcastic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [adjective] > severely
severe1561
excoriating1605
hitting1632
outbraiding1655
slashing1734
lancinating1762
tomahawking1777
hard-hitting1831
smashing1833
slashy1862
scarifying1865
scathing1865
slating1885
1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 164 From slashing B—ley down to pidling T—ds.
1841 T. De Quincey Homer & Homeridae in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 420/1 The Alexandrian critics, with all their slashing insolence, showed themselves sons of the feeble.
1868 M. Pattison Suggestions Acad. Organisation §5. 306 Slashing style, and daring assertion,..are falling into discredit.
1895 Tablet 23 Mar. 457 A deliberate and slashing attack upon the Catholic Church.
2. That slashes or cuts severely. Also of weapons with cutting edges.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > [adjective]
carving?c1225
flyschand?a1400
gashing1566
scorching1570
slicing1578
incisive1598
rescindent1598
hacking1602
dismangling1659
inciding1739
slashing1827
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [adjective] > with something pliant
whiskinga1529
lashing1716
slashing1863
switchinga1869
whipping1904
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > [adjective] > cutting or piercing
piercinga1400
stabbing1600
hacking1602
flesh-transpiercing1609
ganching1614
griding1667
slashing1950
1827 O. W. Roberts Narr. Voy. Central Amer. 70 Being ‘called out’ by one of these slashing gentlemen.
1863 Reader 31 Oct. 502 The way in which he cramps up his calves and toes as the next slashing blow is about to come down.
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 121 In every mill there are other saws.., such as ‘slashing’ saws for cutting slabs.
1950 H. L. Lorimer Homer & Monuments i. 34 To give better protection against the slashing sword.
1964 C. Willock Enormous Zoo ix. 162 Their wrists adorned with semi-circular slashing knives and their fingers with the slashing blades they mount on rings.
3. in combination.1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 387 A long-armed, bare-headed, slashing looking player coming to the wicket.
a. Spirited; dashing; full of vigour. Now used esp. of horses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective]
sprindeOE
livelyOE
kaskc1300
wightc1300
courageousc1386
wighty14..
wieldya1413
ablec1440
tall of hand1530
sappy1558
energical1565
energetical1585
greenya1586
stout1600
strenuous1602
forceful?1624
actuous1626
vigorous1638
vivid1638
high-spirited1653
hearty1665
actuose1677
living1699
full-blooded1707
executive1708
rugged1731
sousing1735
energic1740
bouncing1743
two-fisted1774
energetic1782
zestful1797
rollicking1801
through-ganging1814
throughgoing1814
slashing1828
high-powered1829
high pressure1834
rip-roaring1834
red-blooded1836
ripsnorting1846
zesty1853
dynamic1856
throbbing1864
goey1875
torpedoic1893
kinky1903
zippy1903
go-at-it1904
punchy1907
up-and-at-'em1909
driving1916
vibranta1929
kinetic1931
zinging1931
high-octane1936
zingy1938
slam-bang1939
balls-to-the-wall1967
balls-out1968
ass-kicking1977
hi-octane1977
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > spirited or skittish
skeyc1440
skittish?1510
skeigh1513
fiery?1561
gay1590
sprightful1598
frampold1600
mettleablec1600
mettle1606
fire-snort1608
mettleda1627
spiritly1630
spiritful1644
mettlesome1655
skeighish1827
flighty1828
slashing1862
fly-about1889
buckish1911
snuffy1955
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth viii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 192 There goes the pride of Perth—there go the slashing craftsmen.
1852 C. A. Bristed Five Years Eng. University (ed. 2) 276 They were mostly what would be called slashing men, who could do a great deal and do it well.
1862 Illustr. London News 10 May 492/3 The Stockwell colt..was a slashing horse.
1951 Sport 16–22 Mar. 20/2 A big slashing powerful chestnut with powerful limbs to support his considerable weight, he is equally good in front and behind the saddle.
1976 Horse & Hound 10 Dec. 8/1 Fred Winter was able to give Bula the run he needed..in Wednesday's Sundew 'Chase, named after the fine, big, slashing chestnut whom he rode to victory in..1957.
b. Of actions; esp. of pace, rapid.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > [adjective] > specifically of movement or action
radeOE
swifta1050
smarta1325
quickc1325
round1525
main1567
rapid1605
slashing1824
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 54 My grandfather rode jollily along, in his easy slashing way.
1837 T. Hook Jack Brag I. iii. 71 They all went off at a slashing pace.
1882 Daily Tel. 19 May Making a slashing drive to the off for 4.
c. spec. in Cricket, playing or played in a vigorous or unrestrained manner. Cf. slash v.1 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [adjective] > types of stroke
slashing1832
skied1868
on-side1898
agricultural1899
offside1900
skimming1930
slashed1974
1832 P. Egan Bk. Sports 346/1 A free slashing hitter, who holds it a crime To get any less than six runs a time.
1849 Boy's Own Bk. (new ed.) 69 Such implements as these [sc. the old bats] were but ill adapted even for what is termed ‘slashing hitting’.
1885 Punch 19 Sept. 143/2 Behind the stumps unbeatable, free bat, and slashing field.
4. Very large or fine; splendid. Now chiefly Australian.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > splendour, magnificence, or pomp > [adjective]
wlonkOE
kine-wurtheOE
reala1325
rialc1330
royalc1400
wlonkfulc1400
statelyc1415
pompousc1425
imperial?1435
pontificalc1440
sumptuous1472
magnific1490
magnificenta1530
statelike1534
pompatic1535
magnificala1538
princely1539
portly1548
regal1561
queen-like?1571
haughty1585
portlike1587
Minerva-like1598
lustrous1605
pompatical1610
pontificial1613
commandinga1616
pompal1616
grand1622
splendid1624
pontifician1629
regifical1656
queenly1791
presidential1804
angeliferous1837
slashing1854
sultanesque1862
pageanted1902
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [adjective] > exceptionally large of its kind
gurta1400
swappingc1440
swappit?a1513
strongc1540
thwacking1567
thumping1576
bouncing1579
swingeinga1592
whoppinga1625
rapping1657
spankinga1666
whisking1673
swagging1731
skelping?a1786
whacking1797
slapping1825
plumping1832
walloping1847
slashing1854
smacking1888
plonking1896
sollicking1946
1854 C. Dickens Hard Times ii. vii. 206 Some fair creature with a slashing fortune at her own disposal.
1861 Harper's Mag. Mar. 470/1 Capin Clapp..relaxed his rigid features..as he thought of the ‘slashin’ cargo we had aboard.
1969 Telegraph (Brisbane) 16 May 15/4 Elke Sommer in some slashing fashions takes up crime in this study of computerised skullduggery.
1973 Telegraph (Brisbane) 16 Aug. 26/3 Who'll win a slashing $700 wardrobe just for looking her smart, bright self?
Derivatives
ˈslashingly adv. in a slashing manner; vigorously; severely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adverb]
hardlyeOE
strongeOE
hardOE
fastOE
starklyOE
stalworthlyc1175
starkc1225
mainlyc1300
fellc1330
snellc1330
stout1338
wightlya1340
sadlya1375
sharplyc1380
tough1398
stoutly1399
throa1400
wighta1400
lustilyc1400
sorec1400
vigourslyc1400
stiff1422
vigoriouslya1450
vigorouslya1450
actuallya1470
stourlyc1480
forcely?a1500
lustly1529
fricklyc1540
dingilya1555
livelily?1565
crankly1566
forcibly1578
crank1579
wightily?a1600
proudly1600
energetically1609
stiffly1623
ding-dong1628
greenly1633
hard and fast1646
slashingly1659
thwackingly1660
warmlya1684
robustly1709
sonsily1729
forcefullya1774
vim1843
zippily1924
vibrantly1926
punchily1934
zingily1951
1659 G. Torriano Florio's Vocabolario Italiano & Inglese A-sláscio, slashingly, riotously.
1843 Tait's Edinb. Mag. 10 743 He goes slashingly to work.
1893 Rev. of Reviews Dec. 626 Told so vividly and slashingly.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1596adj.1659