sledge

1 of 4

noun (1)

sledge

2 of 4

verb (1)

sledged; sledging

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
Nicole Scherzinger is sharing her Ohana spirit — and her sledge hammer skills. Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2022 This 3-pound sledgehammer is a great size for both small and large demolition tasks, and provides a bit more control and precision than a full-sized sledge. Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 2 Dec. 2022 There are various types, including ball-peen, sledge and mallet, but the 16-ounce claw hammer, which has a head that is split and curved on one side, should handle most jobs and isn’t too heavy to wield. Laura Daily, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 They have been selected, in both body form and behavior, to retrieve dead ducks, herd sheep, drag badgers from their holes, haul sledges and even deliver brandy to avalanche victims. Jerry A. Coyne, Washington Post, 3 May 2023 For her upcoming challenge, the adventurer will pull 264 pounds of her kit on a sledge while battling temperatures of -58 F and winds that can reach up to 60 mph. Dora Davies-Evitt, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2022 General Tyler who was in the safe business came with a man – and with sledge and wedges knocked the doors from the safe and found the contents gone. Mary Ann Ashcraft, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 10 Oct. 2020 The first tools developed to cut metal were adapted from sledge hammers. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 7 June 2023 Lap up Lapland’s lively diversions, such as wilderness sled and sledge rides pulled by snowmobiles, reindeers or husky dogs; toboggan slides; snow-shoeing hikes; wool-sock nature walks; kick and fat bike outings; and ice water floats (while wearing buoyant brrr-thwarting wetsuits). Laura Manske, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sledge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sledge was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sledge

Cite this Entry

“Sledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sledge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sledge

1 of 3 noun

sledge

2 of 3 noun
: a strong heavy sled

sledge

3 of 3 verb
sledged; sledging
: to travel with or transport on a sledge
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