slash

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To reduce something, such as a price or budget, by a large amount.

   The store slashed its prices to clear out old stock.

2. 2
   verb

   To cut something violently with long, sweeping strokes.

   Someone had slashed all four tires of his car.

3. 3
   noun

   A long cut or wound made by slashing.

   He was bleeding from a slash across his cheek.

Late Middle English, originally a verb of uncertain etymology. Perhaps of imitative origin, or possibly from Old French esclachier (“to break in pieces”), a variant of esclater, which is likely a Germanic borrowing, from Frankish *slaitan (“to slit, tear”). Used in the Wycliffe Bible as slascht (see 1 Kings 5:18) but otherwise unattested until 16th century. Conjunctive use from various applications of the punctuation mark ⟨/⟩. See also slash fiction.

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