The word slot dates from the late 14th century. The word means a hollow at the base of the throat, above the breastbone. It derives from the Old French esclot, of uncertain origin. Its slod (literally “hole”) is also an Old Norse word. The first use of slot is in 1520s, but its modern meaning of “slot machine” is not until the 1880s.

In hockey, the slot is an area between the face-off circles in the offensive zone. The slot can be in two different locations in the rink: the low slot is in front of the goaltender and between the face-off circles, while the high slot is in the middle of the ice above the face-off circles. The goaltender must react lightning fast to the puck if it lands there. The goaltender and defensemen guard this area. Forwards often hover in the slot in hopes of scoring.

The computer has two types of slots: expansion slots and memory slots. The expansion slots are used to expand the computer’s capabilities. An expansion slot allows you to add an add-on board or other hardware components. A bay, on the other hand, is the place where a disk drive can be installed. Bays are the opposite of expansion slots. Their purpose is to install new hardware. The motherboards often come with two expansion slots – one for each processor type.