Slav

¹ American  

Or Slav.

abbreviation

1. Slavic.

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Slav ² American  

[slahv, slav] / slɑv, slæv /

noun

1. one of a group of peoples in eastern, southeastern, and central Europe, including the Russians and Ruthenians Eastern Slavs, the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats, Slavonians, Slovenians, etc. Southern Slavs, and the Poles, Czechs, Moravians, Slovaks, etc. Western Slavs.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Slavs; Slavic.

Slav British  

/ slɑːv /

noun

1. a member of any of the peoples of E Europe or NW Asia who speak a Slavonic language

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Etymology

Origin of Slav

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin Slāvus, variant of Sclāvus, akin to Late Greek Sklábos, from a Slavic ethnonym, perhaps originally a name for all Slavic tribes (compare Old Russian Slověně, an East Slavic tribe); replacing Middle English Sclave, from Medieval Latin Sclāvus; Slovak, Slovenian, slave ( def. )

Example Sentences

The Russians were not eager to intervene, but they could not simply abandon their fellow Slavs of Serbia.

From Literature

“The global financial architecture is just not wired to give countries meaningful credit for positive nature investments,” said Slav Gatchev, the head of the Nature Conservancy’s sustainable debt division.

From New York Times

In each iteration abroad, Slavs and Tatars works with local curators to choose a slate of performers; fermented foods and drinks are always on offer.

From New York Times

Yugoslavia began to disintegrate — and so, too, the idea of Yugoslavia as a union between south Slavs of varied religious and ethnic identities.

From Washington Post

The nearby Baltic Sea island and town of Wolin cultivates the region’s Viking history: it has a runic stone in honor of Harald Bluetooth and holds annual festivals of Slavs and Vikings.

From Seattle Times