Definition of "slut"

Some cry out against sin even as the mother cries out against her child in her lap, when she calleth it slut and naughty girl, and then falls to hugging and kissing it.

1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […]; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, […], 1928,

Before he met you, he was such a whore. No, I'm sorry! Whores get paid. He was a slut.

2005, Adam & Steve

Clo. Truly, and to cast away honestie vppon a foule slut, were to put good meate into an vncleane dish. / Aud. I am not a slut, though I thanke the Goddes I am foule.

c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

Where fires thou find’st unrak’d, and hearths unswept, / There pinch the Maids as blew as Bill-berry, / Our radiant Queene, hates Sluts, and Sluttery.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

The doat on Dowdyes, and Deformity: / E'en what they cannot praise, they will not blame, / But veil with some extenuating name: / The Sallow Skin is for the Swarthy put, / And love can make a Slattern of a Slut …

1685, John Dryden, Slyvae: or, the Second Part of Poetical Miscellanies, "Lucretius: The Fourth Book. Concerning the Nature of Love,: lines 142-46

Well, dont[sic] you want to be clean and sweet and decent, like a lady? You know you cant[sic] be a nice girl inside if youre[sic] a dirty slut outside.

1912, George Bernard Shaw, “Act II”, in Pygmalion‎, page 48

Our Polly is a sad Slut! nor heeds what we have taught her.

1728, John Gay, Begger’s Opera

To hear her rant, one would have supposed, who had not seen him, that her lank-haired, grimly partner, was the prettiest youth in the county of Dublin, and that all the comely lasses in Chapelizod and the country round were sighing and setting caps at him; and Devereux, who had a vein of satire, and loved even farce, enjoyed the heroics of the fat old slut.

1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard

‘Bête!’ returned the angry Frenchman, bestowing a savage kick on one of the unoffending pups which was frisking about his feet. The pup yelped; the slut barked and leaped furiously at the offender, and was only kept from biting him by Sam, who could scarcely hold her back for laughing; the captain was uproarious; the offended Frenchman alone maintained a severe and dignified aspect.

1852, Susanna Moodie, Roughing it in the Bush‎

He sent me to an old bark hut, / Inhabited by a greyhound slut, / Who put her fangs through my poor fut, / And, snarling, off she ran.

1905, Banjo Paterson, Old Bush Songs, page 42

Our little girl Susan is a most admirable slut, and pleases us mightily, doing more service than both the others and deserves wages better.

1664, Samuel Pepys, The Diary of Samuel Pepys

In an effort to avoid any spontaneous slutting out, I give myself a stern look in the mirror. "You can make out with him, but that's it," I tell my boy-crazed reflection.

2009, Shauna Cross, Whip It

Shirley, you slut around here again, and I swear to God I'll break your neck.

1998, David Baldacci, The Winner

The radicals are reluctant to admit that slutting around is a phase that most gay men go through, but not a permanent — what's that phrase? Oh, yes — "lifestyle choice."

2001 January, Dan Savage, “Sluts Like Us”, in Out, volume 9, number 7, page 37