Slalomed

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To move rapidly in a zigzag path by weaving between obstacles, often while skiing or driving
2. To navigate smoothly through a series of barriers or objects by making quick, sharp turns
3. To proceed by shifting direction repeatedly to avoid objects in a fast, controlled manner

Etymology: "Slalomed" is the past tense of "slalom," so its history is the history of the verb itself. The base word comes from Norwegian "sla" (a steep hillside) and "låm" (a trail), a pairing that describes a track cut down a slope. Skiers in Norway used such trails to zigzag downhill, which is the physical picture behind the modern sense of weaving between obstacles. The move from a snowy path to a general verb of weaving happened in the English-speaking world, where skiing competitions made the term familiar. The sense of a race course marked by gates to be passed in turn is what allowed "slalom" to be used for any repeated swerving, and the past form "slalomed" simply applies that action to a completed movement.

Synonyms: zigzagged, maneuvered