transitive verb

1. to cut or wound with a sweeping stroke or strokes, as of a knife
2. to whip viciously; lash; scourge
3. to cut slits in (a fabric, dress, etc.), esp. so as to expose underlying material, usually of another color
4. to reduce drastically to slash prices
5. to criticize severely

Etymology: ME slaschen < ? OFr esclachier, to break, prob. < es- (< L ex-), intens. + Gmc *klakjan, to crack, of echoic orig.

intransitive verb

noun

1. a sweeping stroke made as with a knife
2. a cut made by or as by such a stroke; gash; slit
3. a short diagonal line (/) used between two words to show that either is applicable (and/or), in dates or fractions (3/8), to express “per” (feet/second), etc.; virgule
4. an ornamental slit in a fabric, dress, etc.
5. ☆
   1. an open place in a forest, cluttered with branches, chips, or other debris, as from the cutting of timber
   2. such debris