Slav

[ slahv, slav ]

/ slɑv, slæv /

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noun

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 ).

adjective

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

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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; cf. Slovak, Slovenian, slave

Words nearby Slav

slaty, slaughter, slaughterhouse, slaughterman, slaughterous, Slav, slave, slave ant, slave bracelet, Slave Coast, slave cylinder

Other definitions for Slav (2 of 2)

Slav

or Slav.

abbreviation

Slavic (def. 1).

How to use Slav in a sentence

But his father was a Slav, and what is madness in an Englishwoman is sanity in a Russian.
Paul Patoff|F. Marion Crawford
The late disturbance in the Far East marked the clashing of the dreams, for the Slav, too, is dreaming greatly.
Revolution and Other Essays|Jack London
My old Slav kingdom I did not care to keep; it was best to give up everything, and wipe out all memory of myself.
Dr. Dumany's Wife|Mr Jkai
With no immediate outlook for a strike the Slav and Italian miners refused to pay union dues.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States|Selig Perlman

The line he made his application on was that he should so like to play her a rapid movement by an unpronounceable Slav.
Somehow Good|William de Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for Slav

Slav

/ (slɑːv) /

noun

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

Word Origin for Slav

C14: from Medieval Latin Sclāvus a captive Slav; see slave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012