Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sloth?

\Sloth\, n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl?w?, fr. sl[=a]w slow. See {Slow}.] 1. Slowness; tardiness. These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome. --Shak. 2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness. [They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth. --Milton. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears. --Franklin. 3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family {Bradypodid[ae]}, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of {Edentata}), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico. Note: The three-toed sloths belong to the genera {Bradypus} and {Arctopithecus}, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth ({Bradypus tridactylus}), and the ai ({Arctopitheus ai}). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus {Cholopus}, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau ({Cholopus didactylus}) of South America. See {Unau}. Another species ({C. Hoffmanni}) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths. {Australian, or Native} {sloth} (Zo["o]l.), the koala. {Sloth animalcule} (Zo["o]l.), a tardigrade. {Sloth bear} (Zo["o]l.), a black or brown long-haired bear ({Melursus ursinus, or labiatus}), native of India and Ceylon; -- called also {aswail}, {labiated bear}, and {jungle bear}. It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks. {Sloth monkey} (Zo["o]l.), a loris.
\Sloth\, v. i. To be idle. [Obs.] --Gower.