slan

From Slan (1940) by A. E. van Vogt, a science fiction novel about persecuted—yet physically, mentally and morally superior—telepathic mutant humans. In the novel they are named after their alleged creator, Samuel Lann.

• IPA^(key): /slæn/
• Rhymes: -æn

• Audio (UK):

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slan (plural slans)

1. (dated, fandom slang) A fan of science fiction.
   • 1944, John Bristol Speer, “F - Fascism”, in Fancyclopedia‎^[1]:

     The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race and nobody else, is seen in the many drives for a general fan organization.

   • 1950 September, Charles Stuart Metchette, “Michigan Memories”, in Spacewarp‎^[2], number 42, pages 72–77:

     Here, at least once a month, the slans from Michigan gathered for sneak previews of forthcoming WARPS, to criticise some Rappian manuscript which Art was polishing for pro submission, or to talk about various subjects as fans are wont to do, and drink beer, pop, consume beans, dogs, chips, or eclairs.

   • 1955, Arthur Koestler, The Trail of the Dinosaur and Other Essays, page 143:

     Fen gather in clubhouses called slanshacks, "slan" meaning a biologically mutated superman.

• Homo superior

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “slan”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, pages 187–8.
• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2025), “slan n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.

• SALN, LANs, LNAs

From Proto-West Germanic *slahan.

slān

1. to hit, to beat

• avaslān

• Middle Dutch: slâen
  • Dutch: slaan, slagen
    • Afrikaans: slaan, slaag
  • Limburgish: slaon

• “slān”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

slān

1. inflection of slāh:
   1. accusative/genitive/dative singular
   2. nominative/accusative plural

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *solnъ. Compare sȏl.

• IPA^(key): /slâːn/
• Rhymes: -âːn

slȃn (Cyrillic spelling сла̑н, definite slȃnī, comparative slànijī)

1. salty, saline

• “slan”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2025

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

slan (Cyrillic spelling слан)

1. masculine singular passive past participle of slati

From Proto-Slavic *solnъ, probably originally a past passive participle meaning "(having been) salted".

• IPA^(key): /sláːn/

slȃn (comparative bȍlj slȃn, superlative nȁjbolj slȃn)

1. salt, salty

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

• “slan”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU (in Slovene), 2014–2025

slan n

1. (slang, derogatory) someone lazy, slow (and slovenly)

• Slangopedia