slobber

Definition

Liquid material, generally saliva, that dribbles or drools outward and downward from the mouth.

Etymology

From Middle English sloberen, borrowed from Middle Dutch slobberen (> Modern Dutch slobberen (“to slobber”)), related to West Frisian slobberje (“to slurp”), German Low German slubbern (“to slobber”). Doublet of slabber and slaver. Compare also German schlabbern (“to slobber”). At least in the sense of "saliva", apparently not related to English slob, from Irish slaba (“mud”).

Example Sentences

• "There was dried slobber on his coat lapel."
• "I looked about me in the slobber of rain, and found that I was in the middle of an irregular quadrangle, three sides of which were bordered by buildings of five or six storeys, newish, and furnished with small, not inelegant windows."
• ""Yon good slobber of rain fixed us nicely.""