The word “slot” has a variety of different meanings. It can describe an interior opening in a copy desk, the job of a chief copy editor, or any other situation in which a specific morpheme sequence is appropriate. A slot is also an authorized position at an airport, and the chief copy editor of a newspaper is responsible for its contents. If you’ve ever flown into an airport, you probably know what a slot is.
In hockey, the slot is the area between the faceoff circles in the offensive zone. In fact, the term can refer to two different areas on the ice. One is located right in front of the goaltender, while the other is located in the middle of the ice, above the faceoff circles. The slot can also refer to a specific position within a game, such as the goaltender’s goal circle. In the NHL, players can also be found in the low slot of an ice rink.
The word slot was first used in the late 14th century, meaning a hollow in the throat above the breastbone. This is derived from Old French esclot, which has an uncertain origin. Old Norse slod is another similar term. The word slot first came into common use in the 1520s, and the term “slot machine” dates back to 1888. While a slot is a term that has many uses, it is perhaps most commonly associated with gambling.