An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A long, thin opening in a spectrograph allowing only the light studied to fall on the prism.

Etymology (EN): O.E. slitan “to cut or tear up, slit;” cf. O.S. slitan, O.N. slita, M.L.G., M.Du. sliten, Du. slijten, O.H.G. slizan, Ger. schleißen “to slit.”

Etymology (PE): Šekâf “slit,” from Mod./Mid.Pers. škâf- škâftan “to split, burst;” Proto-Iranian *kap-, *kaf- “to split;” cf. Gk. skaptein “to dig;” L. cabere “to scratch, scrape,” P.Gmc. skabanan (Goth. skaban;
Ger. schaben; E. shave). PIE base (s)kep- “to cut, to scrape, to hack.”