slot

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, the hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone, from Anglo-French esclot hoofprint, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German slag blow, hoofprint; probably from its resemblance to a hoofprint — more at schlock Date: 1523 1. a. a narrow opening or groove ; slit, notch <

a mail slot in a door

> b. a narrow passage or enclosure c. a passage through the wing of an airplane or of a missile that is located usually near the leading edge and formed between a main and an auxiliary airfoil for improving flow conditions over the wing so as to increase lift and delay stalling of the wing d. the area on a hockey rink in front of the crease and between the face-off circles 2. a place or position in an organization, arrangement, or sequence ; niche, spot 3. slot machine 2 — usually used in plural 4. a gap between an end and a tackle in an offensive football line II. verb (slotted; slotting) Date: 1747 transitive verb 1. to cut a slot in 2. to place in or assign to a slot intransitive verb to fit easily <

her ideas slot neatly into the theory

> III. noun (plural slot) Etymology: Middle French esclot track Date: 1575 the track of an animal (as a deer)