BIO:

For this assignment I chose the word/phrase ‘slay.’ The word "slay" comes from Old English "slēan," which meant "to strike, beat, or kill." This word has been used in English since at least the 9th century to describe killing or destroying someone or something. Over time, "slay" has taken on additional meanings, such as "to impress or amaze," often used in the context of fashion or music. The slang usage of "slay" to mean "to do something exceptionally well" or "to be very attractive" became popular in the 2000s. The word became really popular, specifically on TikTok in the past couple of years and it has been used in some popular songs that have come out recently. The word originally came from old English where it was a term that meant to kill mythical beasts or monsters according to Dictionary.com, but the new meaning for it or its slang meaning is when one does something really good or in songs to have sex with someone. 

The slang word "slay" has been in use for quite some time, but its origins are unclear. It is believed to have originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the early 20th century, and has since been adopted into mainstream slang. In AAVE, ‘slay’ was used as a verb to mean ‘to perform exceptionally well’ or ‘to impress someone greatly.’ 

An example would be if one of my teammates made a good play on the softball field I would say “Slay!!” In songs, such as ‘Slay’ by STUNNA COLD, he says 'slay 'as in having sex with an individual. Other examples in different contexts could be, ‘she slayed her dance performance,’ or ‘the dragon slayed the night with a swipe of his tail.’ 

I probably hear the word ‘slay’ by itself used in a phrase or song a hundred times a day by all types of people, mainly girls on social media or on my team, but I would say it was first used mostly in songs with the meaning of sexual intercourse. It tends to be more comical on social media and have more of a positive reaction attached to it.

Sources: 

https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/slay/

https://www.dailycal.org/2022/06/26/the-origins-of-slay