The word “slot” comes from the late 14c. ; the word means “hole” or “opening” at the base of the throat, just above the breastbone. It is derived from Old French, but its exact origin is obscure. It is also a synonym of the Old Norse word slod. It first occurs in the 1520s. Its meaning as a verb appears in 1888.

Airport slots grant an airline the right to operate at an airport, usually when parking space and runway throughput are constrained. Since they are traded, they can be extremely valuable, and one was sold for $75 million in 2016. Air traffic management slots are issued by organizations like EUROCONTROL and other global airports as part of their capacity and flow management role. These types of slots are extremely important to airports, as they provide a way to improve the efficiency of air travel.

In hockey, the term is used to refer to a narrow opening, often a groove, between the blue line and the goal. It is also used as the fourth position in the flying display. Its definition has been questioned, but it is not clear if the term is an outdated or a misnomer. The American Heritage Dictionary notes that “slot” is derived from the Greek verb sleutanos, which means to “cut.” In the United States, a slot can also refer to a position on a plane.

In computer science, a slot machine’s paytable shows how much money a player will earn if certain symbols line up on the same pay table. Many of these symbols are generic, with some representing many different symbols. The paytable will be listed on the machine’s face (older machines often have them above the wheels), or can be found in the help menu of the video machine. A pay table is also helpful in determining the odds of a particular payout.