slang English · revision 1065

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /slæŋ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Of uncertain origin.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Barnhart 1995) Barnhart notes a possible Scandinavian source, comparing Norwegian ''sleng'' “peculiarity of style in speech” and ''slengenavn'' “nickname”, related to the verb [[sling]].^(Barnhart 1995) 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.^(Etymonline) Weekley mentions the view that it is an argot alteration of [[fr|langue|t=language]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The special vocabulary of tramps, thieves or other people of low character (1756).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the cant of vagabonds the word was extended to the jargon of a particular trade or profession (1801),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and by 1818 to very informal language marked by vivid novelty, used by speakers generally.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb, “to use vulgar or abusive language”, dates from 1828, and “to abuse verbally” from 1844;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the British ''slanging match'' is a quarrel of abuse.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1756 – the vocabulary of tramps and thieves.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1758 – adjective, belonging to slang.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1801 – the jargon of a profession.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1818 – very informal, colloquial language.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1828 – verb, to use slang or vulgar abuse.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1844 – verb, to abuse or scold violently.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Very informal language made up of short-lived coinages and vivid [[figure of speech|alt=figures of speech]], used for humor, irreverence or effect instead of standard words.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Language peculiar to a particular group; [[argot]] or [[jargon]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The special vocabulary of thieves and vagabonds; [[cant]].^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To use slang.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To attack with abusive language; to [[vituperate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[slangily]]

+ * [[slanginess]]

+ * [[slangy]]

+ * [[slanging match]]

+ * [[rhyming slang]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jargon]]

+ * [[argot]]

+ * [[cant]]

+ * [[lingo]]

+ * [[vernacular]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}