slash

slash

slash¹ [slash]

vt.

[ME slaschen < ? OFr esclachier, to break, prob. < es- (< L ex-), intens. + Gmc * klakjan, to crack, of echoic orig.]

1. to cut or wound with a sweeping stroke or strokes, as of a knife

2. to whip viciously; lash; scourge

3. to cut slits in (a fabric, dress, etc.), esp. so as to expose underlying material, usually of another color

4. to reduce drastically [to slash prices]

5. to criticize severely

vi.

to make a sweeping stroke or strokes with or as with something sharp; cut or criticize violently

n.

1. a sweeping stroke made as with a knife

2. a cut made by or as by such a stroke; gash; slit

3. a short diagonal line (/) used between two words to show that either is applicable (and/or), in dates or fractions (3/8), to express “per” (feet/second), etc.; virgule: cf. BACKSLASH

4. an ornamental slit in a fabric, dress, etc.

5.

☆ a) an open place in a forest, cluttered with branches, chips, or other debris, as from the cutting of timber

b) such debris

slasher

n.

☆ slash² [slash ]

n.

[< dial. slash, boggy hollow, slashy, swampy, prob. < Scand, as in Norw slask, mud, slush]

a low, swampy area, usually covered with brush