Wiktionary
n. (context obsolete English) A battle cry.
Wikipedia
Slughorn can refer to several things and one (fictional) person.
- It is an obsolete form of the word slogan, closer to its derivation from the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm (meaning war-cry).
- In turn this influenced the pseudo-Medieval poetry of Thomas Chatterton. For example, in a poem about the Battle of Hastings he writes "some caught a slughorne and an onsett wounde" (Battle of Hastings ii.99), meaning "some picked up a slughorn and sounded a charge". A slughorn in this context appears to be some kind of trumpet. However, in a footnote to another usage of the word, Chatterton defines it as "not unlike a hautboy". The Medieval English word hautboy is the origin of the modern word oboe and has never referred to any instrument comparable to a trumpet.
- Chatterton's usage inspired Robert Browning in his poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, in particular the last stanza in which the hero sees the ghosts of all those who died trying to reach the Dark Tower before him.
- Horace Slughorn is a character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling.
- Slughorn is the name of openSUSE's mascot for the YaST2 setup and configuration program.
- The Discworld novel Guards! Guards!, in a reference to Chatterton and Browning, has the false king sound a slughorn to challenge the dragon, described as "like a tocsin, only deeper" and prompting one character to comment "It must have been a bloody big slug".
Usage examples of "slughorn".
Harry and directed him toward a chair not unlike the one that Slughorn had so recently impersonated, which stood right beside the newly burning fire and a brightly glowing oil lamp.
Certainly when Slughorn, who had been busy with decanters and glasses, turned to face the room again, his eyes fell immediately upon Harry.
After a few moments, Slughorn got to his feet but seemed uncertain what to do with himself.
Harry, who could not help wondering why the Death Eaters had not yet tracked down Slughorn if hampers of sweets, Quidditch tickets, and visitors craving his advice and opinions could find him.
At a gesture from Slughorn, they sat down opposite each other in the only two empty seats, which were nearest the door.
Harry did not know and, squashed in the corner beside Slughorn and looking as though she was not entirely sure how she had got there, Ginny.
Belby, who seemed afraid to take another bite of pheasant until he was sure that Slughorn had finished with him.
Harry had the distinct impression that Slughorn had not finished with him, and that he had not been convinced by Neville and Ginny.
Finally the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into a red sunset, and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.
Harry, you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts!
Harry, racking his brains to remember when Dumbledore had told him this, but now that he came to think of it, he was unable to recall Dumbledore ever telling him what Slughorn would be teaching.
Harry was sure that Slughorn had not forgotten the potion at all, but had waited to be asked for dramatic effect.
Now all Harry could see of Malfoy was the back of his sleek blond head, because he was at last giving Slughorn his full and undivided attention.
He thought Little Hangleton must be their final destination and wondered, as he had done on the night they had found Slughorn, why they had to approach it from such a distance.
Gryffindor table when Professor Slughorn appeared in front of them, blocking their path.