mid-15c., from Middle English slugge "lazy person" (see sluggard) + -ish. Earlier adjective was sluggi (early 13c.). Related: Sluggishly; sluggishness.
a sluggish stream
a sluggish market
a sluggish worker
slug
slug-a-bed
slugfest
sluggard
slugger
sluggish
sluice
slum
slumber
slumlord
slummy