Slot Machine
/ˈslɒt məˌʃiːn/noun
A coin-operated gambling device that produces outcomes determined largely by chance.
Did you know?The first famous mechanical slot machine, Charles Fey’s 1895 Liberty Bell, used bells, horseshoes, and playing-card symbols; its fruit symbols later helped evade anti-gambling laws by representing chewing-gum prizes.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
slot
“A narrow opening, groove, or slit.”
17th Century
English
machine
“A constructed device or mechanism, borrowed through French from Latin machina.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mēkhanē
“A contrivance, device, or ingenious means of accomplishing something.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
machina
“A machine, engine, or mechanical contrivance.”
17th Century
English
machine
“A mechanical device designed to perform work.”
Late 19th Century
English
slot machine
“A machine operated by inserting a coin into a slot, initially used for gambling or vending.”