slip2 n DC ~ n 1 Nfld obs (1772), cp OED sb3 3 b 'noose' obs (1687, 1691) for sense 1; EDD 31 'hank of silk or yarn' for sense 2.
1 A snare, arranged like a noose, to catch wild animals and birds.
[1770] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 50 Early in the morning I sent the furriers out with slips; and they tailed two... I then landed Ned and Charles, and sent them to the snares on Hare Hill; all of which they found down: they set them again; and also six more. [1785] ibid iii, 77 She accompanied me in the yawl to the nearest slip, in which we found a white-bear had been caught, and from the appearance of the place, I believe it would have held him, had it been a little stronger. 1792 ibid Gloss i, xv ~ a snare for catching deer, bears, or other large animals. They are made of various materials, accordingly as a man is provided. T 187/9-65 He went and got some good hay wire, and tailed a slip. The next morning he had the ol' doe in the slip; she went through the slip till she got back to her shoulders. T 202/5-65 The secret was slips, wire slips. You'd find the fox at lee in the marshes. You'd tail the slip in that. T 391/3-67 In the fall of the year the youngsters, last goin' off, put out a lot of slips [to catch rabbits]. P 222-67 ~ s. Wire snares tied to a small strong stick in a rabbit run for the purpose of catching the rabbit. The rabbit runs into the snare and becomes caught by the neck. M 68-23 When the rabbit snare was set in an open area the rabbits could see it on a moonlight night. To avoid this we sometimes placed a large branch near the slip in such a way as to cast a shadow on the area around the slip. 1975 LEYTON 21 You used to go in the country, a big copse on the ridges, and you'd put down your stakes and you'd put your slip down between them. [The partridge would] go in and it'd go round their neck and you had them.
2 A hank of twine or spun wool.
1940 SCAMMELL 37 "Squarin' Up": Skipper John Wilkins strolled in to divine / If his credit was good for a few slips of twine. T 26-643 I sent away five pound [of raw wool] the other day [to be spun]. And yesterday I had it come: twenty slips—right there on the fence.
3 One of the men operating a 'tow line.'
T 172/5-65 'Go forrard an' tell the slips she'll do it now.' So I went forrard an' sung out to 'em. I said, 'Alright, boys, skipper said she'll do it.'
4 Comb slip-place: location of an animal snare.
[1775] 1792 CART-WRIGHT ii, 125 We also tailed the two large [traps] in the slip-places, brought the slips home, and saw the track of a white-bear. [1785] ibid iii, 78 In the mean time I sent the men to look at the other slips, and then made a slip place on the east side of Slip Hill.
slip-shod(s): old shoe or boot for casual wear.
[1930 Am Speech v, 393 ~ s. (Heavy rough shoes with wooden soles, used when fishermen are working on deck in fine weather.)] P 222-67 ~ s. Rubber boots which are practically worn out, with the top part cut off, making them wearable as a conventional shoe; worn in the summer when one loafed around; used as a save on shoes. C 71-93 ~ s. Old broken-down but comfortable shoes.
