toboggan

1 of 2

noun

to·​bog·​gan tə-ˈbä-gən How to pronounce toboggan (audio)
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

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 noun

Examples of toboggan in a Sentence

Verb The kids tobogganed down the hill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
During its peak, East Park was the place for picnics, events, rifle shooting, races, toboggan rides, hot air balloons and even parachute jumps. Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 29 June 2024 Constructed from plastic or wood, toboggans are long and rectangular, often fitting two people. Heather Balogh Rochfort, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
By the end of their nine-hour workday, the red-jacketed patrollers had tobogganed out multiple knee injuries and a broken ankle, responded to a few crashes with trees and patched one bloody chin. Karin Brulliard, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Mar. 2023 Brandon Smith bought Legion FC toboggans for himself and his 10-year-old daughter from the merchandise tent. Cheryl Wray, al, 9 Feb. 2020 See all Example Sentences for toboggan 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toboggan.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of toboggan was circa 1820

Dictionary Entries Near toboggan

Cite this Entry

“Toboggan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toboggan. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

toboggan

1 of 2 noun
to·​bog·​gan tə-ˈbäg-ən How to pronounce toboggan (audio)
: a long light sled made without runners and curved up at the front

toboggan

2 of 2 verb
: to slide on a toboggan

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