Dictionary

sledge

see also: Sledge

Pronunciation

Noun

sledge (plural sledges)

A heavy, long handled maul or hammer used to drive stakes, wedges, etc.
- 1737, J. Ray, "A Collection of English Words Not Generally Used, With their Significations and Original in two Alphabetical Catalogues; the one, of such as are proper to the Northern, the other, to the Southern Counties. With an Account of the preparing and refining such Metals and Minerals as are found in England."
  [based on information from Major Hill, Master of the Silver Mills, in 1662, descibing silver mining in Cardiganshire] They dig the Oar thus; One holds a little Picque, or Punch of Iron, having a long Handle of Wood which they call a Gad; Another with a great Iron Hammer, or Sledge, drives it into the Vein.

Synonyms

Verb

sledge (sledges, present participle sledging; past and past participle sledged)

to hit with a sledgehammer.
- 1842, John O'Donovan, The Banquet of Dun Na N-Gedh and The Battle of Magh Rath: An Ancient and Historical Tale
  The rapid and violent exertion of smiths, mightily sledging the glowing iron masses of their furnaces.
- 2005, Langdon W Moore, Langdon W. Moore: His Own Story of His Eventful Life
  When I inquired the reason of this wire being used in the construction of the safe, I was told it was to prevent the doors being broken by either sledging or wedging.

Noun

sledge (plural sledges)

anchor Et2N A low sled drawn by animals, typically on snow, ice or grass.
The sledge ran far better upon the ice; I cannot say the same for the dogs.
(British) any type of sled or sleigh.
- 1708, F. C. [possibly F. Conyers], Compleat Collier: Or, The Whole Art of Sinking, Getting, and Working, Coal-mines about Sunderland and New-Castle
  Aged wore out Coal-Horses, which after some time Wrought you will have, may serve turn for Sledge-Horses.
- 1716, Myles Davies, Athenae Britannicae: Or, A Critical History of the Oxford and Cambridge Writers And Writings...Part I [the full title stretches for 70 words] reporting a passage in "Nicholas Sanders's Seditious Pamphlet" De Schismate Anglicano, &c (1585)
  Ty'd upon the Sledge, a Papist and a Protestant in front, being two very disparate and antipathetick Companions, was a very ridiculous Science of Cruelty, even worst than Death it self (says he).
- 2006, Richard Higgins, Peter Brukner, Bryan English (editors), Essential Sports Medicine
  There are also Winter Paralympic Games with Alpine and Nordic events, as well as sledge hockey - a form of ice hockey using a seated sledge.
A card game resembling all fours and seven-up; old sledge.

Translations

Verb

sledge (sledges, present participle sledging; past and past participle sledged)

To drag or draw a sledge.
- 1860, Sherard Osborn, The career, last voyage and fate of ... Sir John Franklin
  It should be remembered, that these explorations were nearly all made by our seamen and officers on foot, dragging sledges, on which were piled tents, provision, fuel for cooking, and raiment. This sledging was brought to perfection by Captain M'Clintock.
To ride, travel with or transport in a sledge.
- 1860, John Timbs, School-days of Eminent Men: I. Sketches of the Progress of Education in England, from the Reign of King Alfred
  When "the great fen or moor" which washed the city walls on the north was frozen over, sliding, sledging, and skating were the sports of crowds.
- 2006, Godfrey (EDT) Baldacchino, Extreme Tourism: Lessons from the World's Cold Water Islands
  Some of these may be closely associated with the day-to-day lifestyle of such communities — marine activities (fishing, wildlife viewing), mountain activities (abseiling, climbing, hunting) or winter sports (dog sledging).

Verb

sledge (sledges, present participle sledging; past and past participle sledged)

Sledge

Proper noun

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