slang
Meanings
- Language outside of conventional usage and in the informal register.
- Language that is unique to a particular profession or subject; jargon.
- The specialized language of a social group, sometimes used to conceal one's meaning from outsiders; cant.
- A particular variety of slang; the slang used by a particular group.
- An item of slang; a slang word or expression.
- A curse word.
- To vocally abuse, or shout at.
- simple past of sling
- Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory.
- A fetter worn on the leg by a convict.
- A counterfeit weight or measure.
- A travelling show, or one of its performances.
- A hawker's license.
- A watchchain.
- To sell (something, especially illegal drugs).
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
First use appears c. 1756, meaning "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves", origin unknown. Not believed to be connected with language or lingo. Possibly derived from a North Germanic source, then possibly related to Nordic language: Danish slænge, Icelandic and Norwegian Nynorsk slengja, Norwegian slenge, Swedish slänga (“to (carelessly) sling, throw, hurl; throw away, to dispose of; to flail”), with derivational nouns such as slæng, sleng, släng etc. Compare the compound: Danish slængenavn, Norwegian slengenavn, Norwegian Nynorsk slengenamn, Swedish slängnamn (“nickname, byname, informal name”, literally “sling-name”), and the phrases: Norwegian Nynorsk slengja kjeften, Swedish slänga käften (“to abuse verbally”, literally “to sling one's jowl”), Swedish slänga ur sig (“to say something hastily, carelessly, thoughtlessly”, literally “to throw out of oneself”), also Swedish (regional) slänga (“careless, nonchalant girl”, literally “sling + feminine suffix -a”).