The word “slot” has several meanings. Originally, it was the hollow in the base of the throat, above the breastbone. Its origins are uncertain; Old French esclot is also related to Old Norse slod. Slot as a word first appears in the 1520s, and the word “slot machine” first appeared in 1888. Its meaning has evolved over the centuries to include both the machines themselves and the games that take place in them.
A slot consists of data paths and operation issue machinery. In a VLIW world, a slot is a common term. It is used to indicate the relationship between an operation within an instruction and the pipeline that executes it. The term “slot” is also used to describe the execute pipeline, a component of a dynamically scheduled machine. This allows for many uses of a single component. For example, if an instruction is issued with an alias of “header,” it would be referred to as a v-slot.
A slot can be a good place for a defenseman to take a shot. A winger or center can put his stick out in front of the goalie to redirect the puck. Some players take slap shots at speeds of over 100 mph. This requires goalies to react lightning fast. A well-placed one-timer from the high slot is considered one of the most powerful shots in hockey. A defender will typically lay a massive hit on a winger if he is in the slot.