slat

Meanings

1. A thin, narrow strip or bar of wood (lath), metal, or plastic.
2. A control surface that extends forwards and downwards from the leading edge of a wing, leaving a gap between it and the leading edge, in order to modify the airflow around the wing so as to allow flight at a higher angle of attack without stalling, lowering the aircraft's stall speed.
3. A ski.
4. A thin piece of stone; a slate.
5. A drop (of rain or water), a splash.

1. To construct or provide with slats.
2. To slap or strike; to beat, pummel; to hurl or throw down violently.
3. To throw (something, especially water or liquid) down; to slam or splash (something) down.
4. To fall; to beat (against something).
5. To split; to crack.
6. To set on; to incite.

Etymology

From Middle English slatte, sklatte, sklat, sclat, from Old French esclat (“piece broken or split off, shiver, splinter”), from Old French esclater (“to split, burst”), from Frankish *slaitijan (“to split, break”), from Proto-Germanic *slītaną (“to rend, split”). Doublet of slate and éclat.