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slam

Etymology and origin of the English word slam

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Slam, to shut with a bang, is probably Scandinavian; slam, the winning of all the tricks at cards, is of unknown origin.[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈslæm/ (UK); /ˈslæm/ (US)[4]

slam1 bang

Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1672

Etymology

It is probably from a Scandinavian source, compare dialectal Swedish slämma, to slam, bang, Norwegian slamre and Icelandic slæma,[1][2][5] perhaps related to Old Norse slam(b)ra,[3][6] and of imitative origin.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, a severe blow or violent impact: 1672 (the 1670s);[1][7][2] as a verb, to beat or slap, 1691.[1][2]

Semantic evolution

The sense to shut a door with force and noise is recorded as a colloquial word in John Ash's dictionary (1775),[1][2] and the noun, a violent closing of a door, from 1817.[2][7] To throw or push with force is from 1870.[2] An insult or put-down is American slang from 1884,[2][7] and to criticize harshly from 1916.[2] Slam-bang is from 1806.[2] Slammer, a jail, from the slamming of the cell door, is from 1952,[1] and the slam dunk in basketball from 1976.[2][7]

Timeline

  • 1672 – a heavy blow.[1]
  • 1691 – to beat.[1]
  • 1775 – to shut noisily.[1]
  • 1884 – an insult.[2]
  • 1916 – to criticize.[2]
  • 1952 – slammer.[1]
  • 1976 – slam dunk.[7]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To shut a door or window forcefully and noisily, or to be shut so.
  2. To put, throw or strike with force and a loud noise.
  3. (informal) To criticize harshly.

Noun

  1. A forceful impact, or the loud noise it makes.
  2. (informal) Harsh criticism.

Word family

  • slammer
  • slam dunk

slam2 cards

Confidence
Unknown
First attested
1621

Etymology

It is of unknown or obscure origin,[1][2][5] perhaps a shortening of the obsolete slampant, in give the slampant, to hoodwink.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The card game ruff and honours: 1621, in Jeremy Taylor, the 1620s in Etymonline.[1][2]

Semantic evolution

The winning of all the tricks, especially in whist, is from 1660.[1][2][5] Grand slam in bridge is first recorded in 1892,[1] and the verb, to beat by winning a slam, from the mid-18th century.[8]

Timeline

  • 1621 – the game of ruff.[1]
  • 1660 – winning all the tricks.[1]
  • 1892 – grand slam.[1]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The winning of all the tricks, or all but one, in a hand of bridge or whist.

Word family

  • grand slam

Usage notes

In 17th-century use slam was also a euphemism for damn.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Slam.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/slam. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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