Slug Definition

slŭg

slugged, slugging, slugs

noun

slugs

A round bullet larger than buckshot.

American Heritage

An amount of liquid, especially liquor, that is swallowed in one gulp; a swig.

American Heritage

A person, vehicle, etc. that moves sluggishly.

Webster's New World

A small piece or lump of metal; specif., a bullet.

Webster's New World

A piece of metal shaped like and used in place of a coin in automatic coin machines; esp., such a substitute coin when used illegally.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

slugged, slugging, slugs

To wait for or obtain a ride to work by standing at a roadside hoping to be picked up by a driver who needs another passenger to use the HOV lanes of a highway.

American Heritage

To insert (a slug) between lines.

Webster's New World

To hit hard.

To slug someone in the nose, to slug a baseball over the fence.

Webster's New World

To drink rapidly or in large gulps.

Slugged down a can of pop.

American Heritage

To strike heavily, especially with the fist or a bat.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Slug

Noun

Singular:

slug

Plural:

slugs

Origin of Slug

Originally referred to a lazy person, from Middle English slugge, probably of Scandinavian/Old Norse origin; compare dialectal Norwegian sluggje (“heavy, slow person").

From Wiktionary
Middle English slugge sluggard probably of Scandinavian origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Perhaps from slug (from its shape)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Possibly from slug

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Probably from slug

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition