Something worn to cover sluttishness, an outer garment put on over untidy attire, an apron, pinafore, or ‘brat.’ Also fig.
1639. Short Contention betw. French-hood, Felt-Hat, etc. I. 9. Wee doe know you [i.e., the head-dress called ‘The Bagge’] to be … a meere rumpled … Taffeta Cover-slut.
1657. G. Starkey, Helmont’s Vind., 173. It is … hateful, that the providence of God should be misapplied as a cover-slut of idleness, ignorance, and unconscionableness.
1670. Acc. Scotland, in Harl. Misc., VI. 139 (D.). Those women that can purchase plads need not bestow much upon other clothes, these cover-sluts being sufficient.
1795. Burke, Regic. Peace, iv. Wks. IX. 54. Rags and Coversluts of Infamy.
1808. Wolcott (P. Pindar), One more Peep, Wks. 1812, V. 374. Put on your cover-slut of blue.
1845. Athenæum, 4 Jan., 17. Exhibiting … a smart architectural ‘pinafore’ in front … a mere ‘coverslut’ intended to hide meanness and deformity.
