slice English · revision 10587

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=fro esclice|origins=frk *slītan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /slaɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is, shortened, [[bor|fro|esclice|t=splinter, small piece of wood]] (modern éclisse),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from the verb esclicier, to splinter, shatter,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Frankish *slītan, to split, or another Germanic source,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) related to Old High German slīzan, to tear (see [[slit]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A splinter or fragment: probably before 1300, in Kyng Alisaunder.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Flat utensils such as a fish slice were called slices from the 14th century,^(Hoad 1986) and the sense of a thin, broad piece cut from something is first recorded before 1475, about 1420 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A portion or share is from 1550,^(OED 1989) and ''slice of life'', a translation of French tranche de vie, from 1890.^(OED 1989) The verb, to cut into slices, is from before 1475, first of beef;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the golf sense, to hit a ball so that it curves off course, is by 1890.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – a splinter.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1475 – a thin piece; to slice (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1550 – a share.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – a slicing stroke.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – slice of life.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thin, broad piece cut from something: ''a slice of bread''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A portion or [[share]]: ''a slice of the profits''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A utensil with a broad, flat blade, used for serving food.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(golf, tennis)'' A stroke that makes the ball curve off to one side.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cut into slices, or to cut a slice from.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To cut through with or as with a knife.^(AHD)

+ # To hit a ball with a slice.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sliceable]]

+ * [[slicer]]

+ * [[slicingly]]

+ * [[preslice]]

+ * [[fish slice]]

+ * [[slice bar]]

+ * [[slice of life]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[slit]]

+ * [[slate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}