subs. (thieves’).—Soap: Fr. glissant.
Adj. and adv. (old colloquial: now recognised).—Untrustworthy; false; wanton. Also SLIPPER, SLIPPY, and SLIP-SKIN. Whence SLIPPERY-FELLOW (or -TRICK) = ‘deceitful’ (B. E.): ‘one on whom there can be no dependance’ (GROSE).
[?]. Political Poems [E.E.T.S.], 60.
| To lyve in woo he hath grete fantasie, | |
| and of his herte also hath SLIPER holde. |
[?]. TAVERNER, Adagies, C.1. Let this example teach menne not to truste on the SLIPPERNESSE of fortune.
[?]. The Paradise of Dainty Devices, E.3. On SLIPPER ioy of terreine pleasure here.
d. 1540. R. BARNES, Workes, 283. I know they bee SLIPPER that I haue to doe wyth, and there is no holde of them.
1579. SPENSER, The Shepheardes Calender, Nov. 153.
| O trustlesse state of earthly things, and SLIPPER hope | |
| Of mortal men that swinck and sweate for nought. | |
| Ibid., Sept. 200. | |
| Long time he used this SLIPPERY pranck. |
1580. J. LYLY, Euphues [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 606. Adjectives are employed in new senses as A SLIPPERY PRANKE, a broad jest …].
d. 1590. PUTTENHAM, Works, i. 4, ‘Of Poets and Poesy.’ Because it is more currant and SLIPPER upon the tongue, and withal tunable and melodious.
1602. SHAKESPEARE, Othello, ii. 1, 246. A SLIPPER and subtle knave. Ibid. (1604), Winter’s Tale, i. 2. My wife is SLIPPERY. Ibid. (1610), Coriolanus, iv. 4. O world, thy SLIPPERY turns.
1619. FLETCHER, A King and No King, ii. 1. Servants are SLIPPERY: but I dare give my word for her and her honesty [chastity].
1641–2. MILTON, Animadversions upon the Remonstrant’s Defence, etc. A pretty SLIP-SKIN conveyance to sift mass into no mass. Ibid. (1641), Of Prelatical Episcopacy. There were some bad and SLIPPERY men in that councell.
2. (common).—Quick.
1899. KERNAHAN, Scoundrels & Co., vii. We must look slippy about it…. It’s lucky I haven’t far to go.
