slough

¹

or sluff

[ sluhf ]

noun

1. the outer layer of the skin of a snake, which is cast off periodically.
2. Pathology. a mass or layer of dead tissue separated from the surrounding or underlying tissue.
3. anything that is shed or cast off.
4. Cards. a discard.

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become shed or cast off, as the slough of a snake.
2. to cast off a slough.

   Synonyms: molt

3. Pathology. to separate from the sound flesh, as a slough.
4. Cards. to discard a card or cards.

verb (used with object)

1. to dispose or get rid of; cast (often followed by off ):

   to slough off a bad habit.

2. to shed as or like a slough.
3. Cards. to discard (cards).

verb phrase

1. to treat as slight or trivial:

   to slough over a friend's mistake.

slough

²

[ slou, sloo ]

noun

1. a swamp or swamplike region.
2. Also slew, slue. Northern U.S. and Canada. a usually shallow and slow-moving marshy or reedy body of water, such as one that provides drainage; wetland.
3. a hole full of mud or wet soil, such as one in a road.
4. a condition of degradation, despair, or helplessness:

   Exercise was one thing that helped to lift me out of the slough of depression.

slough

¹

/ slʌf /

noun

1. any outer covering that is shed, such as the dead outer layer of the skin of a snake, the cellular debris in a wound, etc
2. Alsosluff bridge a discarded card

verb

1. often foll by off to shed (a skin, etc) or (of a skin, etc) to be shed
2. Alsosluff bridge to discard (a card or cards)

Slough

²

/ slaʊ /

noun

1. an industrial town in SE central England, in Slough unitary authority, Berkshire; food products, high-tech industries. Pop: 126 276 (2001)
2. a unitary authority in SE central England, in Berkshire. Pop: 118 800 (2003 est). Area: 28 sq km (11 sq miles)

slough

³

/ slaʊ /

noun

1. a hollow filled with mud; bog
2. sluː
   1. (in the prairies) a large hole where water collects or the water in such a hole
   2. (in the northwest) a sluggish side channel of a river
   3. (on the Pacific coast) a marshy saltwater inlet
3. despair or degradation

slough

/ slŭf /

Noun

1. The dead outer skin shed by a reptile or an amphibian.

Verb

1. To shed an outer layer of skin.

Derived Forms

• ˈsloughy, adjective
• ˈsloughy, adjective

Other Words From

• sloughi·ness noun
• sloughy adjective
• un·sloughed adjective
• un·sloughing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slough¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English slough, slugh(e), slouh “skin of a snake”; cognate with Low German sluwe, slu “husk, peel,” German Schlauch “skin, wineskin, bag”

Origin of slough²

First recorded before 900; Middle English slough(e), slouh(e) “muddy place, mud hole,” Old English slōh, slōg; cognate with Middle Low German slōch, Middle High German sluoche “ditch”; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of slough¹

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German slū husk, German Schlauch hose, Norwegian slō fleshy part of a horn

Origin of slough²

Old English slōh; related to Middle High German sluoche ditch, Swedish slaga swamp

Example Sentences

At a time when capitulating to the mainstream was regarded as selling out, R.E.M.’s move to a major label stung, as if the band had sloughed off its loyalists for the teeming masses.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, there is growing concern about the health and environmental consequences of microplastics — the bits of degraded plastic that slough off as the product ages, or is used, or washed.

From Los Angeles Times

Motherhood has made Slate gentler on herself, sloughing off feelings of foolishness, self-criticism and self-doubt.

From Los Angeles Times

While disease is a natural part of marine ecosystems, increased runoff, global climate change and a slough of human impacts stress corals and cause disease.

From Science Daily

While in a car, the man started ramming into a Department of Transportation contractor vehicle that had a lift operating over a slough with two contractors on board, investigators said previously.

From Seattle Times