Slit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slit or Slitted (; p. pr. & vb. n. Slitting.]
Etymology: [OE. slitten, fr. sliten, AS. stitan to tear; akin to D. slijten to wear out, G. schleissen to slit, split, OHG. slizan to split, tear, wear out, Icel. stita to break, tear, wear out, Sw. slita, Dan. slide. Cf. Eclat, Slate, n., Slice.]
1. To cut lengthwise; to cut into long pieces or strips; as, to slit iron bars into nail rods; to slit leather into straps.
2. To cut or make a long fissure in or upon; as, to slit the ear or the nose.
3. To cut; to sever; to divide. [Obs.] And slits the thin-spun life. Milton.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Slit, obs.
3d. pers. sing. pres. of Slide. Chaucer.
Slit, n.
A long cut; a narrow opening; as, a slit in the ear. Gill slit. (Anat.) See Gill opening, under Gill.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for slit; he lists it under rend.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.