Slops

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Liquid waste or refuse, often from food preparation or general waste disposal
2. a type of loose-fitting clothing or outerwear, particularly in a casual or informal style
3. a term used to describe careless or untidy behavior or work, reflecting a lack of attention to detail

Etymology: "Slops" is the plural of "slop," and for centuries the plural named loose, baggy breeches or outer garments, a sense now archaic. The messy sense, as in watery food or spilled liquid, comes from the same root and suggests something loose and spreading. The careless-work sense grows from that messy sense. Work done with the looseness of something spilled or ill-fitting is "sloppy," and the plural noun carries the same idea. The origin of "slop" itself is uncertain; it may be connected to Old English "slop," meaning a garment, but the exact link to the liquid sense is unclear.

Synonyms: waste, refuse, scraps, remnants, debris

Antonyms: cleanliness, tidiness