The term slot comes from a late 14c. French word, which originally referred to a hollow at the base of the throat above the breastbone. The term is also a synonym for the Old Norse word slod. The meaning of slot is first recorded in the 1520s, and the word slot machine is not until the 1880s. However, the term is not restricted to casinos. It has also influenced the design of many other machines.

A slot can also refer to a specific grammatical function. It is a special kind of word that fits into a particular morpheme sequence. Slots are common in the VLIW world, where the relationship between an operation in an instruction and the pipeline that executes it is both explicit and implicit. Slots are also used to refer to jobs at airports, which are authorized by the air-traffic authority. The meaning of slots varies depending on context.

The high slot is the prime shooting spot for the defenseman. Some defenders are able to score from a high slot using a blistering slap shot. On the other hand, the center or winger can make a good redirection shot with his stick. In either case, the goaltender must be lightning fast to the puck. It’s also a great spot for wrist shots. However, the low slot can also mean that defenders establish the slot as a no man’s land.