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slug (n.1)"shell-less land snail," 1704, originally "lazy person" (early 15c.); related to sluggard.
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slug (n.2)"lead bit," 1620s, perhaps a special use of slug (n.1), perhaps on some supposed resemblance. Meaning "token or counterfeit coin" first recorded 1881; meaning "strong drink" first recorded 1756, perhaps from slang fire a slug "take a drink," though it also may be related to Irish slog "swallow." Journalism sense is from 1925, originally a short guideline for copy editors at the head of a story.
Related entries & more slug (v.)"deliver a hard blow with the fist," 1862, from slug (n.3). Related: Slugged; slugging. Slugging-match is from 1878.
Related entries & more slugger (n.)1877, originally in baseball, agent noun from slug (v.). Meaning "one who hits with the fists" is from 1883.
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slog (v.)1824, "hit hard," probably a variant of slug (v.3) "to strike." Sense of "walk doggedly" first recorded 1872. Related: Slogged; slogger; slogging.
Related entries & more beche-de-mer (n.)"sea-slug eaten as a delicacy in the Western Pacific," 1814, from French bêche-de-mer, literally "spade of the sea," a folk-etymology alteration of Portuguese bicho do mar "sea-slug," literally "worm of the sea."
Related entries & more loach (n.)small edible European fish, mid-14c., from Old French loche "loach" (13c.), also, in dialect, "slug," a word of unknown origin (see discussion in Gamillscheg).
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