sleigh

[sley]

noun

a light vehicle on runners, usually open and generally horse-drawn, used especially for transporting persons over snow or ice.

a sled.

verb (used without object)

to travel or ride in a sleigh.

Origin of sleigh

1690–1700, Americanism; < Dutch slee, variant of slede sled; cf. slide

Related formssleigh·er, noun

Can be confusedsled sledge sleigh

sleigh

[sley]

noun, verb (used with object)

sley.

sley

or slay, sleigh

[sley]

noun, plural sleys.

the reed of a loom.

the warp count in woven fabrics.

British. the lay of a loom.

verb (used with object)

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.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sleighing

Historical Examples of sleighing

I had one of the best trotters in the country, and the sleighing was superb.
The Trail of '98
Robert W. Service
The sleighing was fine, and the snow was six and seven feet deep on a level.
The Land of the Long Night
Paul du Chaillu
Of all pleasures, winter sleighing was still the gayest and most popular.
The Education of Henry Adams
Henry Adams
Well, it's only three days, and the sleighing is practically ended.
Under Fire
Charles King
It's such fun coasting and skating and sleighing and snow-balling.
Heart of Gold
Ruth Alberta Brown

British Dictionary definitions for sleighing

sleigh

noun

another name for sledge 1 (def. 1)

verb

(intr) to travel by sleigh

Derived Formssleigher, noun

Word Origin for sleigh

C18: from Dutch slee, variant of slede sledge 1

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

Word Origin and History for sleighing

sleigh

"vehicle mounted on runners for use on ice and snow," 1703, American and Canadian English, from Dutch slee, shortened from slede (see sled (n.)). As a verb from 1728. Related: Sleighing. Sleigh-ride is first recorded 1770; sleigh-bells is from c.1780; they originally were used to give warning of the approach of a sleigh.