Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SLIT, v.t. [pret. slit; pp. slit or slitted. Sax. slitan; Sw. slita; G. schleissen; D. slyten; Dan. slider. The two latter signify to wear out or waste. The German has the signification of splitting and of wearing out.]

1. To cut lengthwise; to cut into long pieces or strips; as, to slit iron bars into nail rods.
2. To cut or make a long fissure; as, to slit the ear or tongue, or the nose. – Temple. Newton.
3. To cut in general. – Milton.
4. To rend; to split.