sledge

1
[ slej ]
See synonyms for sledge on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. 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.

  2. a sled.

  1. British. a sleigh.

verb (used with or without object),sledged, sledg·ing.
  1. to convey or travel by sledge.

verb (used without object),sledged, sledg·ing.
  1. British. to sleigh.

Origin of sledge

1
1595–1605; <dialectal Dutch sleeds, derivative of sledesled; cf. sleigh

Words that may be confused with sledge

Words Nearby sledge

Other definitions for sledge (2 of 2)

sledge2
[ slej ]

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

Origin of sledge

2
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

  • Webb made his clay from ancient bricks that he found on walks in Brooklyn, then smashed to a powder with a sledge hammer.

    The Fine Art of Recycling | Blake Gopnik | January 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Americans love winners and they love underdogs, and when we took a sledge hammer to kill ants, people turned against us.

    The GOP’s Kamikazes Are Back | Eleanor Clift | June 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Fortunately, the last crash had been passed without dislocating the parts of either sledge or rider.

    The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
  • In truth, it was so intently engaged with a sleeping seal that it had not observed the approach of the sledge.

    The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Rising at once he bundled up his traps, threw the line of his small hand-sledge over his shoulder, and stepped out for home.

    The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Soon the sledge which the dogs had drawn to the woods was piled high with deer and other game.

  • Thrice, all his strength flew with a downright stroke,—a smithy's sledge less crushing.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis

British Dictionary definitions for sledge (1 of 3)

sledge1

esp US and Canadian sled (slɛd)

/ (slɛdʒ) /


noun
  1. Also called: sleigh a vehicle mounted on runners, drawn by horses or dogs, for transporting people or goods, esp over snow

  2. a light wooden frame used, esp by children, for sliding over snow; toboggan

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

verb
  1. to convey, travel, or go by sledge

Origin of sledge

1
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
  1. short for sledgehammer

British Dictionary definitions for sledge (3 of 3)

sledge3

/ (slɛdʒ) /


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

noun
  1. an insult aimed at another player during a game of cricket

Origin of sledge

3
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