sley

American  

[sley] / sleɪ /

Or slay,

noun

plural

sleys

1. the reed of a loom.

2. the warp count in woven fabrics.

3. British. the lay of a loom.

---

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.

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; slay

Example Sentences

The warp-threads next are drawn through the interspaces between two dents or strips of the sley or reed.

From Home Life in Colonial Days by Earle, Alice Morse

The sley separates the warp, the woof is inserted in the middle with sharp shuttles, which the fingers hurry along, and, being drawn within the warp, the teeth notched in the moving sley strike it.

From A Book of Myths by Stratton, Helen

The warp-threads were carefully taken from the bars and rolled upon the wooden beam of the loom, the ends passed through the sley and tied.

From Home Life in Colonial Days by Earle, Alice Morse

I would sley do it as not Sliden, Slidder, Slither v.  to slide Sliver s.  a thin slice Slock v.  to encourage the servants of other people to pilfer Slooen adj.  of sloe, ex.

From A Glossary of Provincial Words & Phrases in use in Somersetshire by Williams, Wadham Pigott

Memorandum—The Culloden and Zealous to each make a platform for one eighteen pounder, the Theseus to make a sley for dragging cannon.

From The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1 by Harrison, James