sledge

[ slej ]

See synonyms for sledge on Thesaurus.com

noun

a vehicle of various forms, mounted on runners and often drawn by draft animals, used for traveling or for conveying loads over snow, ice, rough ground, etc.
a sled.

British. a sleigh.

verb (used with or without object),sledged, sledg·ing.

to convey or travel by sledge.

verb (used without object),sledged, sledg·ing.

British. to sleigh.

Origin of sledge

1595–1605; <dialectal Dutch sleeds, derivative of sledesled; cf. sleigh

Words that may be confused with sledge

sled, sledge , sleigh

Other definitions for sledge (2 of 2)

sledge²

[ slej ]

noun, verb (used with or without object),sledged, sledg·ing.

sledgehammer (defs. 1, 2).

Origin of sledge

before 1000; Middle English slegge,Old English slecg; cognate with Dutch slegge,Old Norse sleggja; akin to slay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sledge in a sentence

Rocks were sledged to and packed around the 'dead men' in the holes to make them compact.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
After the specimen had been flayed, the skin and a good supply of dogs' meat were hauled across and sledged home.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
In these explorations he went alone, and once he sledged far within the Arctic circle with only two dogs to keep him company.
A Daughter of the Middle Border | Hamlin Garland
That heart-throb sledged against his ribs, passed and found the bulldog grip unrelaxed.
The Flying Death | Samuel Hopkins Adams
Something sledged him in the chest; his right leg crumpled under him.
Space Viking | Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for sledge (1 of 3)

sledge¹

esp US and Canadian sled (slɛd)

/ (slɛdʒ) /

noun

Also called: sleigh a vehicle mounted on runners, drawn by horses or dogs, for transporting people or goods, esp over snow
a light wooden frame used, esp by children, for sliding over snow; toboggan

NZ a farm vehicle mounted on runners, for use on rough or muddy ground

verb

to convey, travel, or go by sledge

Origin of sledge

C17: from Middle Dutch sleedse; C14 sled, from Middle Low German, from Old Norse slethi, related to slide

Derived forms of sledge

sledger, noun

British Dictionary definitions for sledge (2 of 3)

sledge²

/ (slɛdʒ) /

noun

short for sledgehammer

British Dictionary definitions for sledge (3 of 3)

sledge³

/ (slɛdʒ) /

verb

(tr) to bait (an opponent, esp a batsman in cricket) in order to upset his concentration

noun

an insult aimed at another player during a game of cricket

Origin of sledge

of uncertain origin; perhaps from sledgehammer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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