Shakespeare had used the word "slut" nearly a year before he wrote sonnet 55 when he wrote Timon of Athens. In the play, Timon associates the word "slut" with "whore" and venereal disease. Associating "sluttish" with venereal disease makes Shakespeare's use of the word "besmeared" more specific.
Before writing sonnet 55, Shakespeare used the word 'slut' in his play Timon of Athens nearly a year earlier. In the play, Timon associates 'slut' with 'whore' and venereal disease, which makes Shakespeare's use of 'besmeared' more specific.