eclat n.

c. 1200, slitten, "to split with a knife or sharp weapon, cleave open," from or related to Old English slitan "to slit, tear, split, rend to pieces; bite, sting; back-bite," from Proto-Germanic *slitanan "tear apart" (source also of Old Saxon slitan, Old Frisian slita, Old Norse slita, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch sliten, Dutch slijten, Old High German slizan, German schleißen "to slit"). Slice is the same word via French.

A more violent verb in Old English than after, as in slitcwealm "death by rending." From late 14c. as "make an incision."

Slit skirt, one tight and with a slit or slits up from the hem, is by 1913 (as an adjective, slit, in reference to garments decorated with slashes, is from late 14c.). A slitting-mill (1660s) cut iron plates into thin rods for making nails, etc.