- slovenly
- 1510s, "low, base, lewd," later "untidy, dirty" (1560s), from sloven "immoral woman" (mid-15c.), later also "rascal, knave" (regardless of gender); probably from M.Flem. sloovin "a scold," related to sloef "untidy, shabby," from P.Gmc. *slup- + O.Fr. suffix -ain, from L. -anus.