Slow-moving, slimy mollusks similar to snails but without shells; also a punch or hit, or a bullet.
The creature sense comes from Scandinavian origins (Old Norse 'slöggva'), while 'slug' as a punch may be imitative. The bullet sense emerged from American slang in the 1800s.
Slugs secrete a slime trail that's amazingly sophisticated—it's not just lubrication, it's a complex substance they can control, use to communicate, and even weaponize, making them far more chemically clever than their slimy reputation suggests.
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