slat

¹

[ slat ]

noun

1. a long thin, narrow strip of wood, metal, etc., used as a support for a bed, as one of the horizontal laths of a Venetian blind, etc.
2. Aeronautics. a control surface along the leading edge of a wing that can be extended forward to create a gap slot to improve airflow.
3. slats, Slang.
   1. the ribs.
   2. the buttocks.
   3. Slats, a nickname for a tall, slender man.

verb (used with object)

, slat·ted, slat·ting.

1. to furnish or make with slats

slat

²

[ slat ]

verb (used with object)

, slat·ted, slat·ting.

1. to throw or dash with force.

verb (used without object)

, slat·ted, slat·ting.

1. to flap violently, as sails.

noun

1. a slap; a sharp blow.

slat

¹

/ slæt /

verb

1. tr to throw violently; fling carelessly
2. intr to flap violently

noun

1. a sudden blow

slat

²

/ slæt /

noun

1. a spent salmon

slat

³

/ slæt /

noun

1. a narrow thin strip of wood or metal, as used in a Venetian blind, etc
2. a movable or fixed auxiliary aerofoil attached to the leading edge of an aircraft wing to increase lift, esp during landing and takeoff

verb

1. tr to provide with slats

Word History and Origins

Origin of slat¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sclat, slat(te “a roofing tile, slate,” from Middle French esclat “splinter, chip”; éclat

Origin of slat²

First recorded in 1200–50; of obscure origin; possibly from Old Norse sletta “to slap, splash”

Word History and Origins

Origin of slat¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse, Icelandic sletta to slap

Origin of slat²

C19: of uncertain origin

Origin of slat³

C14: from Old French esclat splinter, from esclater to shatter

Example Sentences

“We have shown the world that the impossible is now possible. The only missing thing is who will ensure this job gets done,” said Boyan Slat, founder and chief executive of the Ocean Cleanup.

From Los Angeles Times

United said Tuesday that the Boeing 757-200 with 165 passengers aboard landed in Denver on Monday to “address an issue with the slat” on one of its wings.

From Seattle Times

The organization was founded in 2013 by 16-year-old Boyan Slat, a Dutch inventor and entrepreneur, with the aim of cleaning up 90 percent of floating ocean plastic pollution by 2040.

From Slate

Instead of introducing the audience to unfamiliar people with flaws and frailties that no amount of superstrength can entirely overcome, we're handed a slat in a bridge to the next project each of which feels less consequential than the last.

From Salon

A video showed gunmen firing from inside a white truck with what appeared to be wood slat sides around its bed.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bar
• bat
• baton
• cane
• club
• rod
• slab
• stalk
• strip
• wand
• wedge