Chapter Skin to Slave of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Slate He has a slate or tile loose. He is a little cracked; his head or roof is not quite sound.

Slate Club (A). A sick benefit club for working-men. Originally the names of the members were entered on a folding slate; in the universities the names of members are marked on a board, or on boards; hence such expressions as “his name is on the boards,” “I have taken my name off the boards.”

Slate One (To). To criticise, expose in print, show up, reprove. A scholastic term. Rebellious and idle boys are slated, that is, their names are set down on a slate to expose their offence, and some punishment is generally awarded.

“The journalists there lead each other a dance.
If one man `slates' another for what he has done,
It is pistols for two, and then coffin for one.”
Punch (The Pugnacious Penmen), 1885.

Slating (A). A slashing review.

“He cut it up root and branch ... He gave it what he technically styled `a slating'; and as he threw down his pen ... he muttered, `I think I've pretty well settled that dunce's business.”- The World, February 24th, 1892, p. 24.

Slave (1 syl.). This is an example of the strange changes which come over some words. The Slavi were a tribe which once dwelt on the banks of the Dnieper, and were so called from slav (noble, illustrious); but as, in the lower ages of the Roman empire, vast multitudes of them were spread over Europe in the condition of captive servants, the word came to signify a slave.    Similarly, Goths means the good or godlike men; but since the invasion of the Goths the word has become synonymous with barbarous, bad, ungodlike.
   Distraction is simply “dis-traho,” as diversion is “di-verto.” The French still employ the word for recreation or amusement, but when we talk of being distracted we mean anything but being amused or entertained.