slew

• IPA^(key): /sluː/ (or IPA^(key): /sljuː/ in some regions)
• Rhymes: -uː

Borrowed from Irish slua (“crowd”), from Old Irish slúag, slóg, from Proto-Celtic *slougos (“troop, army”), from Proto-Indo-European *slowgʰos, *slowgos (“entourage”).

slew (plural slews)

1. (US) A large amount.

   She has a slew of papers and notebooks strewn all over her desk.

• onslaught

In all senses, a mostly British spelling of slue.

slew (plural slews)

1. The act, or process of slaying.
2. A device used for slaying.
3. A change of position.

slew (third-person singular simple present slews, present participle slewing, simple past and past participle slewed)

1. (transitive, nautical) To rotate or turn something about its axis.
2. (transitive) To veer a vehicle.
3. (transitive) To insert extra ticks or skip some ticks of a clock to slowly correct its time.
4. (intransitive) To pivot.
5. (intransitive) To skid.
6. (transitive, rail transport) to move something (usually a railway line) sideways

   The single line was slewed onto the disused up formation to make way for the future redoubling.

7. (transitive, Britain, slang) To make a public mockery of someone through insult or wit.

slew

1. simple past tense of slay

• slain

Compare slough.

slew (plural slews)

1. A wet place; a river inlet.
   • Theodore Roosevelt

     The prairie round about is wet, at times almost marshy, especially at the borders of the great reedy slews.

• lews, wels