sley

American  

[sley] / sleɪ /

Or slay,

noun

sleys plural

1. the reed of a loom.

2. the warp count in woven fabrics.

3. British. the lay of a loom.

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verb (used with object)

1. to draw (warp ends) through the heddle eyes of the harness or through the dents of the reed in accordance with a given plan for weaving a fabric.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• sleys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sley

before 1050; Middle English sleye, Old English slege weaver's reed; akin to Dutch slag, German Schlag, Old Norse slag, Gothic slahs a blow; see slay

Example Sentences

“Things I Put Together” reclaims Bush Tetras’ muscle, dissonance and die-hard contrarianism: “Still I won’t keep those things I put together,” Sley declares, going on to insist, “No never!”

From New York Times • May 5, 2023

Watching this, Cynthia Sley, the lead singer of the Bush Tetras, one of the quintessential New York post-punk groups, was dumbfounded.

From The Guardian • Apr. 1, 2016

Related: 'He was like the Messiah': Larry Levan, the DJ who changed dance music forever “No one worked,” Sley continues.

From The Guardian • Apr. 1, 2016

For most vehicles they have what they call a Sley, which is the body of a Coach fastened on to a Sledge with ropes, and drawn by one Horse.

From The Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous, Vol. 3 Who was a sailor, a soldier, a merchant, a spy, a slave among the moors... by Sala, George Augustus

In Henslowe's "Enventorey of all the aparell of the Lord Admirals men, taken the 13th of Marcher 1598," is an item, "Perowes sewt, which Wm Sley were."

From Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois by Boas, Frederick S.