Etymologically
Log in

slang

Etymology and origin of the English word slang

History Permalink

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /slæŋ/[1]

Etymology

Of uncertain origin.[2][3][4][5] Barnhart notes a possible Scandinavian source, comparing Norwegian sleng “peculiarity of style in speech” and slengenavn “nickname”, related to the verb sling.[5] Etymonline reports Anatoly Liberman's explanation from the northern English dialect noun slang “a narrow strip of land” and related Scandinavian words for wandering, so that the word passed from the territory of tramps and hawkers to their language.[6] Weekley mentions the view that it is an argot alteration of French langue (“language”).[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The special vocabulary of tramps, thieves or other people of low character (1756).[7][5][6][3]

Semantic evolution

From the cant of vagabonds the word was extended to the jargon of a particular trade or profession (1801),[7][5][6] and by 1818 to very informal language marked by vivid novelty, used by speakers generally.[7][5][6] The verb, “to use vulgar or abusive language”, dates from 1828, and “to abuse verbally” from 1844;[6][7] the British slanging match is a quarrel of abuse.[7]

Timeline

  • 1756 – the vocabulary of tramps and thieves.[7][5][6][3]
  • 1758 – adjective, belonging to slang.[7][5]
  • 1801 – the jargon of a profession.[7][5][6]
  • 1818 – very informal, colloquial language.[7][5][6]
  • 1828 – verb, to use slang or vulgar abuse.[7][6][3]
  • 1844 – verb, to abuse or scold violently.[7][6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Very informal language made up of short-lived coinages and vivid figures of speech, used for humor, irreverence or effect instead of standard words.
  2. Language peculiar to a particular group; argot or jargon.
  3. The special vocabulary of thieves and vagabonds; cant.

Verb

  1. To use slang.
  2. To attack with abusive language; to vituperate.

Word family

  • slangily
  • slanginess
  • slangy
  • slanging match
  • rhyming slang

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Slang.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/slang. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·