slur

Meanings

Noun

• An insult or slight, particularly one used to denigrate a specific group.
• A set of notes that are played legato, without separate articulation.
• The symbol indicating a legato passage, written as an arc over the slurred notes (not to be confused with a tie).
• A trick or deception.
• In knitting machines, a device for depressing the sinkers successively by passing over them.

Verb

• To insult or slight.
• To run together; to articulate poorly.
• To play legato or without separate articulation; to connect (notes) smoothly.
• To soil; to sully; to contaminate; to disgrace.
• To cover over; to disguise; to conceal; to pass over lightly or with little notice.
• To cheat, as by sliding a die; to trick.
• To blur or double, as an impression from type; to mackle.

Origin

• From Middle English sloor ("thin or fluid mud"). Cognate with Middle Low German sluren ("to trail in mud"). Also related to dialectal Norwegian sløra ("to be careless, to scamp, dawdle"), Danish sløre ("to wobble, be loose") (especially for wheels); compare Old Norse slóðra ("to drag oneself along").