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Where does the word "slam" come from? It comes from Scandinavian slamra, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
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Where does the word "slam" come from? It comes from Scandinavian slamra, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Slam’s story begins in Scandinavian: slamra meant “to bang shut.” 'grand slam' in bridge and tennis is a different use of the same word. It reached English by 1600s as slam. Settled as the English word for shutting something forcefully. Today, slam means to shut or put something down forcefully and loudly.
- Stage 1 · Scandinavian · medieval slamra "to bang shut", 'grand slam' in bridge and tennis is a different use of the same word.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s slam "to shut or put down something forcefully", settled as the English word for shutting something forcefully.