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

Through the slatted wall, volunteers provide them with clothes, medical supplies and snacks — even free WiFi and an electrical strip to charge their phones.

From Los Angeles Times

The only relief came from irregularly spaced wooden slats drilled into the rock that provided desperately needed footholds.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than solid walls, it had angled wooden slats designed to let in plenty of light.

From Literature

The spaces between the metal slats create ripples, and fish tend to swim away.

From Los Angeles Times

The plot moves on — to sultry interplay on the hood of a car, in a dorm room, in the back seat of a car, on the wooden slats of a sauna.

From New York Times

Related Words

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