Lazy, a. [Compar. Lazier; superl. Laziest.]
Etymology: [OE. lasie, laesic, of uncertain origin; cf. F. las tired, L. lassus, akin to E. late; or cf. LG. losig, lesig.]
1. Disinclined to action or exertion; averse to labor; idle; shirking work. Bacon.
2. Inactive; slothful; slow; sluggish; as, a lazy stream. "The night owl's lazy flight." Shak.
3. Wicked; vicious. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] B. Jonson.
Lazy tongs, a system of jointed bars capable of great extension, originally made for picking up something at a distance, now variously applied in machinery.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Idle; indolent; sluggish; slothful. See Idle.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for lazy; he lists it under idle.
Where he writes about it:
Lazy signifies indisposed to exertion, averse to labor; idleness is in fact; laziness is in disposition or inclination. — from idle
A lazy person may chance to be employed in useful work, but he acts without energy or impetus. — from idle
We speak figuratively of a lazy stream. — from idle