old sledge

American  

noun

1. all fours.

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Etymology

Origin of old sledge

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

He brought in a cloud of witnesses, and produced an overwhelming mass of testimony, to show that old sledge was not a game of chance but a game of science.

From Sketches New and Old, Part 3. by Twain, Mark

Papa, with one or two cronies, was playing "old sledge" in the smoking compartment.

From Warrior Gap A Story of the Sioux Outbreak of '68. by King, Charles

I was originally created cluss to the Connektikut line, in Nu England, whare the game ov 7 up, or old sledge, was born, and exists now in awl its pristine virginity.

From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Shaw, Henry W.

To crown his accomplishments, Simon was tip-top at the game of "old sledge," which was the fashionable game of that era, and was early initiated in the mysteries of "stocking the papers."

From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume V. (of X.) by Wilder, Marshall Pinckney

Still later in the Fall the Parson sat in the Howling Wilderness, with his back to the blazing, crackling fire, having it all his own way at his favorite game of old sledge.

From First Fam'lies of the Sierras by Miller, Joaquin