sledge

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈslej 

: sledgehammer

sledge

2 of 4

verb (1)

sledged; sledging

: sledgehammer

sledge

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

British : sleigh

2

: a strong heavy sled

sledge

4 of 4

verb (2)

sledged; sledging

intransitive verb

1

: to travel with a sledge

2

British : to ride in a sleigh

transitive verb

: to transport on a sledge

Examples of sledge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As soon as the Brulé glimpsed Harney’s troops the women began to strike tepees, loading lodge poles, skins and other belongings onto travois, sledges drawn by horses and dogs. —Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024

In 1986, activists sank two roughly 430-ton Icelandic whaling ships and used sledge hammers and acid to destroy processing equipment in the country’s only whale oil plant. —Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 7 Aug. 2024

What’s available: Everything from caulking guns and heat guns to thermal cameras, extension cords, drills, chain saws, sledge hammers, ladders, baking pans and more. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 14 July 2024

Phoenix Rigging & Erecting last received an OSHA violation in August 2014 after a piece of metal broke off a sledge hammer and struck an employee in the chest, killing him. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English slegge, from Old English slecg; akin to Old Norse sleggja sledgehammer, Old English slēan to strike — more at slay

Noun (2)

Dutch dialect sleedse; akin to Middle Dutch sledde sled

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1654, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1708, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing sledge

• old sledge

Kids Definition

sledge

1 of 3 noun

ˈslej 

: sledgehammer entry 1

sledge

2 of 3 noun

: a strong heavy sled

sledge

3 of 3 verb

sledged; sledging

: to travel with or transport on a sledge