slouch

 
Pronunciation: /slaʊtʃ/

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial] stand, move, or sit in a lazy, drooping way: he slouched against the wall the lads slouched about the place resentfully (be slouched) he was slouched in his chair (as adjective slouching) a peculiar slouching gait
  • 2 [with object] dated bend one side of the brim of (a hat) downwards: a travelling hat slouched over his eyes

noun

[in singular]
  • 1a lazy, drooping posture or movement: his stance was a round-shouldered slouch
  • 2 [usually with negative] informal an incompetent person: my brother was no slouch at making a buck he’s no slouch on the guitar
  • 3a downward bend of a hat brim.

Origin:

early 16th century (in the sense 'lazy, slovenly person'): of unknown origin. Slouching was used to mean 'hanging down, drooping' (specifically describing a hat with a brim hanging over the face), and 'having an awkward posture' from the 17th century