slam English · revision 10520

+ Slam, to shut with a bang, is probably Scandinavian; slam, the winning of all the tricks at cards, is of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈslæm/ ''(UK)''; /ˈslæm/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|bang}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1672}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably from a Scandinavian source, compare dialectal Swedish slämma, to slam, bang, Norwegian slamre and Icelandic slæma,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps related to Old Norse slam(b)ra,^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) and of imitative origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a severe blow or violent impact: 1672 (the 1670s);^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) as a verb, to beat or slap, 1691.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense to shut a door with force and noise is recorded as a colloquial word in John Ash's dictionary (1775),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the noun, a violent closing of a door, from 1817.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To throw or push with force is from 1870.^(Etymonline) An insult or put-down is American slang from 1884,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to criticize harshly from 1916.^(Etymonline) ''Slam-bang'' is from 1806.^(Etymonline) ''Slammer'', a jail, from the slamming of the cell door, is from 1952,^(Barnhart 1988) and the ''slam dunk'' in basketball from 1976.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1672 – a heavy blow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1691 – to beat.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1775 – to shut noisily.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1884 – an insult.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1916 – to criticize.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – slammer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1976 – slam dunk.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To shut a door or window forcefully and noisily, or to be shut so.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To put, throw or strike with force and a loud noise.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To criticize harshly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A forceful impact, or the loud noise it makes.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Harsh criticism.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[slammer]]

+ * [[slam dunk]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|cards}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=1621}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of unknown or obscure origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps a shortening of the obsolete slampant, in give the slampant, to hoodwink.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The card game ruff and honours: 1621, in Jeremy Taylor, the 1620s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The winning of all the tricks, especially in whist, is from 1660.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) ''Grand slam'' in bridge is first recorded in 1892,^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb, to beat by winning a slam, from the mid-18th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1621 – the game of ruff.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660 – winning all the tricks.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1892 – grand slam.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The winning of all the tricks, or all but one, in a hand of bridge or whist.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[grand slam]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[slap]]

+ * [[bang]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In 17th-century use slam was also a euphemism for [[damn]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}