A slot is a narrow depression, or slat, found at the base of the throat above the breastbone. The term “slot” derives from the Old French esclot, a word of uncertain origin. The term was first recorded in the 1520s, but its meaning as a machine is a much later development. A slot also has other meanings, such as “deer track” – a bloodhound tracks a deer that has been harmed and has fallen into it.
In the world of technology, a slot has many meanings. For example, it can describe a job assignment or interior opening on a copy desk. A chief copy editor occupies a slot in a Gazette. Similarly, a slot can be a position in an airport or air-traffic authority. Some people consider slots to be synonymous with “address,” and this is largely because they are so widely used.
The term “slot” is a noun, originally meaning to cut a hole or provide a slot. It later gained the sense of “drop a coin in a slot.” Another use of the word “slot” is to “fit something into a slot,” which is derived from the late 1970s. The oldest sense of “slot” is in baseball, where it refers to the area between the faceoff circles.
Today, there are many different types of slots available. In addition to paylines, some multi-line slots feature several rows of icons. These can be used to play multiple games at once, but most of these have a set limit. The number of lines may be fewer or larger than the paylines in traditional three-reel machines. The number of lines on multi-line slots varies, from one to fifteen. As a result, a higher payoff will result from multiple winning combinations.