a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3.
Law.defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
verb (used with object)
4.
to utter slander against; defame.
verb (used without object)
5.
to utter or circulate slander.
Origin: 1250–1300; (noun) Middle Englishs(c)laundre < Anglo-Frenchesclaundre,Old Frenchesclandre, alteration of escandle < Late Latinscandalum cause of offense, snare (see scandal); (v.) Middle Englishs(c)laundren to cause to lapse morally, bring to disgrace, discredit, defame < Old Frenchesclandrer, derivative of esclandre
late 13c., from Anglo-Fr. esclaundre, O.Fr. esclandre "scandalous statement," alteration of escandle "scandal," from L. scandalum "cause of offense, stumbling block, temptation" (see scandal). The verb is attested from c.1300, from O.Fr. esclandrer, from esclandre.