verb. (common).—To run away; to BUNK (q.v.). As subs. = an escape: e.g., TO DO A SLOPE.

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  1844.  HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Attaché, xxvii. They jist run like a flock of sheep afore a couple of bull dogs, and SLOPE off properly skeered.

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  1847.  ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, 34. The Buzzard of the Eagle cannot pay his board bill, and fears are entertained that he will SLOPE without liquidating the debt!

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  1855.  JACOB BIGELOW, Eolopoesis: American Rejected Addresses. ‘Blouzelinda’ Canto I. He left Mudfog, made a SLOPE, and went off to Texas.

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  c. 1866.  VANCE, The Chickaleary Cove. Now, my pals, I’m going to SLOPE, see you soon again I hope.

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  1897.  MARSHALL, Pomes, 17. So she SLOPED from her Brummy.

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  2.  (old cant).—See quot.

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  1610.  ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, 38 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. Cowch a hogshead … is like an Alminacke that is out of date; now the duch word TO SLOPE is with them vsed to sleepe, and liggen, to lie downe.

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