toboggan

1 of 2

noun

to·​bog·​gan tə-ˈbä-gən 

1

: a long flat-bottomed light sled made usually of thin boards curved up at one end with usually low handrails at the sides

2

: a downward course or a sharp decline

3

chiefly Southern US and Midland US : stocking cap

Illustration of toboggan

• toboggan 1

toboggan

2 of 2

verb

tobogganed; tobogganing; toboggans

intransitive verb

1

: to coast on or as if on a toboggan

2

: to decline suddenly and sharply

tobogganer noun

tobogganist

tə-ˈbä-gə-nist 

noun

Examples of toboggan in a Sentence

Verb

The kids tobogganed down the hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But with colder weather, locals and visitors can enjoy winter activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing—and, should temperatures drop low enough, a century-old toboggan slide in January and February. — Kristin Granero, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2026

Like the water toboggan ride, to put it bluntly, the first Tilt-A-Whirl was a bit crude. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 29 Aug. 2026

Verb

The town and its surroundings offer outdoor activities year-round, from skiing in the winter to summer tobogganing down Straza Hill, which provides amazing views of the water below. — Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026

In winter, snowshoeing and tobogganing down the hill are added to the lineup. — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Canadian French tobogan, of Algonquian origin; akin to Micmac tobâgun drag made of skin

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for toboggan

• andropogon
• dogon
• noggin

Kids Definition

toboggan

1 of 2 noun

to·​bog·​gan tə-ˈbäg-ən 

: a long light sled made without runners and curved up at the front

toboggan

2 of 2 verb

: to slide on a toboggan