Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

sledge

noun (1)
\ ˈslej \

Definition of sledge 

(Entry 1 of 4)

: sledgehammer

sledge

verb (1)
sledged; sledging

Definition of sledge (Entry 2 of 4)

: sledgehammer

sledge

noun (2)

Definition of sledge (Entry 3 of 4)

1 British : sleigh

2 : a strong heavy sled

sledge

verb (2)
sledged; sledging

Definition of sledge (Entry 4 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : to travel with a sledge

2 British : to ride in a sleigh

transitive verb

: to transport on a sledge

First Known Use of sledge

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

History and Etymology for sledge

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about sledge

Dictionary Entries near sledge

sled cultivator

sledding

sled dog

sledge

sledgehammer

sledger

sled harvester

Statistics for sledge

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for sledge

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for sledge

sledge

noun
\ ˈslej \

Kids Definition of sledge

: a strong heavy sled

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on sledge

See words that rhyme with sledge

Spanish Central: Translation of sledge

Nglish: Translation of sledge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sledge for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sledge

Comments on sledge

What made you want to look up sledge? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

glade

an open space surrounded by woods

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games