Etymology

Always derived from ON, either via the ME v. slenten (see MED s.v.) or directly from an ON n. *slent (cp. Norw slent ‘side-slip’, Sw slänt ‘slope’) related to the wk. v. represented by OIcel sletta ‘to slap, dab’ < earlier ON *slenta < PGmc *slantjan-, a causative formation on the PGmc root *slent-; see further slentyng.

PGmc Ancestor

*slent- or *slant-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

cp. sletta (v.) ‘to slap, dab’
(ONP sletta (vb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far sletta, Icel sletta, Norw sletta; Norw sletta, Norw dial slinta, Dan slente, Sw slinta; cp. Norw slent, Sw slänt

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

BB2c

Attestation

MED cites the n. slent in a handful of N and E texts and it occurs in N, E and Sc dial of MnE; the v. slenten more commonly and without apparent dial restriction.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Pe 141

Bibliography

MED slent (n.1)[ http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mec/med-idx?type=id&id=MED40826&egs=all&egdisplay=open], OED slent (n.1)[ http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/181687?], HTOED , EDD slent (v.1, sb.1, adj. and prep.), Bj. 219, de Vries sletta, Mag. sletta (2)