a. [SNAIL sb.1]

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  1.  That is as slow as a snail; very sluggish or tardy in motion, progress, etc.

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1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., II. v. 47. The patch is … a huge feeder: Snaile-slow in profit.

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1803.  Pic Nic, No. 1 (1806), I. 13. France is … cold and snail-slow in redress or justice.

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1812.  W. Tennant, Anster Fair, III. viii. The son, impatient, leaves his snail-slow sire.

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1901.  E. Phillpotts, Striking Hours, 114. Off goes Squire snail-slow.

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  2.  Marked by excessive slowness of progress.

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1900.  Daily News, 12 July, 6/2. The era of military reform, which may be said to have begun its snail-slow course in 1870.

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