sled 
hand a pyketl start'e wherwith lie may susteine the sleade 
from faulyng if it cluiunce to decline to much on any part. 
R, Eden, tr. of Sigisimmdus Liberus (First Books on 
[America, ed. Arber, p. 331). 
I departed from Vologhda in poste in a sled, as the 
maner is in Winter. Hctkluyt's Voyages, I. 312. 
sled 1 (sled), i: ; pret. and pp. sledded, ppr. sled- 
<liii</. [< sled 1 , .] I. trans. To convey or trans- 
port on a sled: as, to sled wood or timber. 
II. iiitraiis. 1. To ride or travel in a sled: 
sometimes with an impersonal it. 
Look where, mantled up in white, 
He sleds it like the Muscovite. 
Cotton (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 219). 
2. To be carried or transported on a sled. 
[Colloq.] 
Now, p'r'aps, ef you'd jest tighten up the ropes a leetle 
t'other side, and give 'em sovereignty, the hull load would 
sled easier. H. B. Stmve, Oldtown, p. 482. 
sled- (sled), n. [A corruption of sledge 1 .] Same 
as sledge 1 , sledge-hammer. 
sled-brake (sled'brak), . A form of brake 
adapted for use with a sled. It is usually a 
prong which can be caused to project against 
the ice or snow. 
sledded (sled'ed),^.a. [< sled 1 + -ed 2 .] Mount- 
ed on or riding in a sled. [Rare.] 
He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. 
Shale., Hamlet, i. 1. 63. 
[This passage, however, is obscure. Some read "steaded 
pollax" (leaded battle-ax).] 
sledder (sled'er), n. 1. One who travels on a 
sled. 2. A horse that draws a sled or sleigh. 
Smiler (our youngest sledder) had been well in over his 
withers, and none would have deemed him a piebald, save 
of red mire and black mire. 
R. D. Blackmore, Lorna Doone, ii. 
sledding (sled'ing), n. [Verbal n. of sled 1 , .] 
1 . The use of a sled ; the act of riding or carry- 
ing on a sled. 2. Opportunity to use a sled; 
state of a road which permits that use. Com- 
pare sleighing in like sense. 
Sledge 1 (slej), n. [< ME. slegge, < AS. sleet/, 
siege (also, in a Kentish gloss, slice), a heavy 
hammer, = leel. sleggja = Sw. slagga, a sledge, 
= D. slegge, slei, a mallet, = 
OHG. slaga, MHG. slage, sla, 
G. schlage, a tool for striking 
(cf. AS. slegele, a plectrum, D. 
slagel = G. schlagel, a sledge), 
lit. 'striker,' 'smiter,' < sledn 
(pp. slegen), strike, smite: see 
slay 1 . Cf. ste/ 2 .] A large heavy 
hammer, used chiefly by black- 
smiths. Also called sledge-ham- 
mer. The about-sledge gives the 
heaviest blow, the handle being grasped by both hands to 
swing the sledge over the head. The uphand sledge is 
used for light work, and is rarely raised above the head. 
In hys bosom [the giant] put thre gret slegges wrought. 
Horn. of Partenay (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3000. 
His blows fall like huge sledges on an anvil. 
Fletcher, Bonduca, iii. 5. 
Cat's-nead sledge. Sam e as bully-head. - Coal-sledge, 
a hammer of peculiar shape, weighing from 5 to 8 pounds, 
used in mines to break coal. Old sledge. Same as all- 
fours. 
sledge 2 (slej), n. [Another form of sled 1 , 
whether (a) by mere confusion with sledge 1 , 
or (6) by confusion with sleds, pi. of sled 1 : see 
sled 1 .'] 1. Same as sled 1 , 1 and 2. 
The banks of the Mtcander are sloping, and they cross 
it on a sort of a boat, like a sledge in shape of a half loz- 
enge, the sides of it not being above a foot high. 
Pococke, Description of the East, II. ii. 57. 
2. A vehicle without wheels, commonly on 
runners and of various forms, much used in 
Head of 
Blacksmiths' Cross- 
peen Sledge. 
5689 
" Samovar postavit!" ("On with the tea-kettle!") the 
half-frozen traveler never failed to shout from his sledge 
as he neared a post-station. 
A. J, C. Hare, Studies in Russia, iv. 
3. Hence, anything serving the purpose of a 
vehicle which may be dragged without wheels 
along the ground, as the hurdle on which per- 
sons were formerly drawn to execution. 4. 
Same as sled 1 , 2. 
Oft on sledges in winter, as swift as the swoop of the eagle. 
Down the hillside bounding, they glided away o'er the 
meadow. Longfellow, Evangeline, i. 1. 
5. In her., a bearing representing a heavy vehi- 
cle with runners like a sledge. 
sledge 2 (slej), v. t. and i. ; pret. and pp. sledged, 
ppr. sledging. [< sledge' 2 , .] To convey or 
transport in a sledge ; travel in a sledge. 
sledge-chair (slej'char), n. A seat mounted 
on runners and having a high back, which can 
be grasped by a skater. 
sledge-dog (slej'dog), n. A dog trained or used 
to draw a sledge, as an Eskimo dog. 
sledge-hammer (slej'ham"er), n. [< sledge 1 + 
liam mer 1 .'] The largest hammer used in forges 
or by smiths in forging or shaping iron on an 
anvil. See sledge 1 . 
Sledge-hammer (slej'ham"er), v. t. [< sledge- 
hammer, .] To hit hard; batter as with a 
sledge-hammer. 
You may see what is meant by sledge-hammering & man. 
Sir G. C. Lewis, Letters (1834), p. 32. (Davies.) 
sledman (sled'man), .; pi. sledmen (-men). 
The owner or driver of a sled ; a carrier who 
uses a sled. 
But nowe they, hauing passed the greater part of their 
iourney, mette at last with the Slcddeman (of whom I 
spake before). Hakluyt's Voyages, I. 247. 
slee 1 t, t. A Middle English form of slay 1 . 
Slee 2 t, a. A Middle English and Scotch form 
of sly. 
Slee 3 t (sle),w. [< 'D.slee, a sled: seesfed 1 .] A 
cradle on which a ship rests when hauled up to 
be examined or repaired, 
sleecht, Slitcht (slech, slich), . [Also sleetch; 
dial, slutch, var. sludge, slush, partly differenced 
in use (Sc. unassibilated slik, slike); < ME. 
slicclie, slyche, prob. < D. slijk, dirt, mud, grease, 
= LG. slikk = G. schlick, grease, slime, mud; 
akin to sleek, slick. Cf. sludge, slush, slosh.'] 
Thick river-mud ; sludge; slime. 
And wayuerand, weike, [I] wan to the lond, 
Thurgh the slicche and the slyme in this slogh feble, 
There tynt haue I truly myche tried goode. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 13B47. 
And I will goe gaither slyche, 
The shippe for to caulke and pyche. 
Chester Plays, I. 47. 
sleech (slech), v. t. [< sleech, re.] To dip or 
ladle up, as water, broth, etc. [Scotch.] 
sleek, slick 1 (slek, slik), a. and n. [The form 
slick is related to sleek much as crick 2 is related 
to creek 1 , but is in fact the more orig. form, un- 
til recently in good literary use, and still com- 
mon in colloquial use (the word being often so 
pronounced even though spelled sleek), but now 
regarded by many as somewhat provincial; 
early mod. E. also sleke; < ME. slicke, slike, slik, 
slyk, sclyke, < Icel. slikr, sleek, smooth (cf. slikja, 
a smooth thin texture, sKkjuligr, smooth, sliki- 
steinn, a whetstone : see sleekstone) ; cf . MD. 
sleyck, plain, even, level, creeping on the 
ground ; related to MD. slijck, D. slijk = MLG. 
slik, slik, LG. slikk = G. schlick, grease, mud, 
ooze, = Sw. slick = Dan. slik, ooze, etc. (see 
slick*), = OHG. slih, MHG. slich, a gliding mo- 
tion, G. schlich, a by-way, trick, artifice ; from a 
strong verb appearing in MLG. silken, LG. slik- 
en (pret. sleek, pp. sleken) = OHG. slilihan, slich- 
an, MHG. sKchen, G. schleichen (pret. schlich) = 
ME. slike, creep, crawl, move on smoothly : see 
slike 1 , slink 1 ."] I. a. 1. Smooth; glossy; soft: 
as, sleek hair; a steek skin. 
Her fleshe tender as is a chike, 
With bente browes, smothe and slyke. 
Rom. of the Rose, 1. 542. 
The oiled sleek wrestler Strug 
William Morris, E 
led with his peers. 
rthly Paradise, III. 217. 
northern countries where ice and snow pre- 
vail; a sleigh: as, a reindeer sledge; an Eski- 
mo sledge. In the United States sledge is not 
used in this sense. See sleigh, 1 , and cut under 
pulk. 
2. Oily; plausible; insinuating; flattering: as, 
a sleek rogue ; a sleek tongue. 
How smooth and slick thou art, no where abiding ! 
Heywood, Dialogues (Works, ed. Pearson, 1874, VI. 175). 
Self-love never yet could look on truth 
But with bleared beams; slick flattery and she 
Are twin-born sisters. 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, i. 1. 
3. Dexterous; skilful; neat in execution or ac- 
tion: as, a sleek or slick bowler. [Colloq.] 
sleeking 
II. ii. A smooth, shining place or spot. Spe- 
cifically- (a) A place on the fur or hair of an animal which 
has been made sleek by licking or the like. (6) A smooth 
place on the water, caused by eddies or by the presence of 
nshorofoil. [U.S.] 
You have seen on the surface of the sea those smooth 
places which fishermen and sailors call slicks. . . . Our 
boatman . . . said they were caused by the blue fish 
chopping up their prey, . . . and that the oil from this 
butchery, rising to the surface, makes the slide. What- 
ever the cause may be, we invariably found lish plenty 
whenever we came to a slick. 
D. Webster, Private Correspondence, II. 333. 
One man, on a sperm whaler, is stationed on the main 
or mizzen chains or in the starboard boat with a scoop 
net, to skim slicks while the head of the whale is being sev- 
ered from the body that is, to save the small pieces of 
blubber and "loose" oil which float upon the water. 
Fisheries of U. S., V. ii. 283. 
Sleek, slick 1 (slek, slik), v. [Early mod. E. also 
slecke; < ME. sliken, partly < slik, E. sleek, slick, 
a., and partly the orig. verb : see slike 1 , v. Cf. 
Icel. sleikja, lick, = Norw. sleikja, stroke with 
the hand, lick ; slikja, make smooth, stroke, also 
intr. glisten, shine ; slikka = Sw. slicka = Dan. 
slikke, lick.] I. trans. 1. To make smooth and 
flossy on the surface : as, to sleek or slick the 
air. 
I slecke, I make paper smothe with a slekestone, Je fais 
glissant. Palsgrave, p. 720. 
There she doth bathe, 
And sleek her hair, and practise cunning looks 
To entertain me with. 
Beau, and Ft, Woman-Hater, iv. 1. 
Fair Ligea's golden comb, 
Wherewith she sits on diamond rocks, 
Sleeking her soft alluring locks. 
Milton, Comus, 1. 882. 
The old servant was daunted by seeing Sylvia in a 
strange place, and stood, sleeking his hair down, and fur- 
tively looking about him. 
Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xxx. 
Technically (a) In currying and leather-dressing, to 
smooth the surface of (leather) by rubbing with an imple- 
ment called a slicker. (6) In haymaking, to attach (fur) to 
felt by hand-work. 
2. To smooth; remove roughness from. 
Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks. 
Shak., Macbeth, iii. 2. 27. 
For her fair passage even alleys make, 
And, as the soft winds waft her sails along, 
Sleek every little dimple of the lake. 
Drayton, Barons' Wars, iii. 47. 
3. Figuratively, to calm ; soothe. 
To sleek her ruffled peace of mind. 
Tennyson, Merlin and Vivien. 
Some nights when she 's ben inter our house a playin' 
checkers or fox an' geese with the child'en, she'd railly 
git Hepsy slicked down so that 't was kind o' comfortable 
bein' with her. H. B. Stowe, Oldtown, p. 409. 
II. intrans. To move in a smooth manner; 
glide ; sweep. Compare slike 1 . 
For, as the racks came sleeking on, one fell 
With rain into a dell. 
Leigh Hunt, Foliage, p. xxx. (Dames.) 
Sleek, Slick 1 (slek, slik), adv. [< ME. slike; < 
sleek, slick 1 , .] In a sleek or slick manner; with 
ease and dexterity; neatly; skilfully. [Colloq. J 
Jack Marshal and me and the other fellers round to the 
store used to like to get him to read the Columbian Sen- 
tinel to us ; he did it off slicker than any on us could ; he 
did there wa'n't no kind o' word could stop him. 
H. B. Stmce, Oldtown, p. 253. 
sleeked (slekt), . [< sleek + -ed2.] Smooth. 
sleeken (sle'kn), v. t. [< sleek + -en 1 ."] To 
make smooth, soft, or gentle ; sleek. [Bare.] 
And all voices that address her 
Soften, sleeken every word. 
Mrs. Browning, A Portrait. 
Sleeker, Slicker (sle'ker, slik'er), . [< sleek, 
slick 1 , T -er 1 ."] 1. In leather-manuf., a tool of 
steel or glass in a wooden stock, used with pres- 
sure to dress the surface of leather, in order to 
remove inequalities and give a polish. 
The sides of lace-leather are . . . finished by laying 
them upon a flat table and smoothing them out with a 
glass slicker. C. T. Davis, Leather, p. 565. 
2. In founding, a small tool, usually of brass, 
made in a variety of shapes, used to smooth the 
curved surfaces of molds. 3. An oilskin or 
water-proof overcoat. [Cow-boy slang.] 
We had turned the horses loose, and in our oilskin slick- 
ers cowered, soaked and comfortless, under the lee of the 
wagon. T. Roosevelt, The Century, XXXV. 864. 
[Chiefly in technical or colloquial use, and 
commonly slicker.] 
sleek-headed (slek'hed"ed), . Having a sleek 
or smooth and shining head. 
Let me have men about me that are fat ; 
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights. 
Shak., J. C., i. 2. 193. 
sleeking, slicking (sle'kiug, slik'ing), . [Ver- 
bal n. of sleek, slick 1 , c.] The act of making a 
thing sleek or smooth. Specifically (o) Inhat-mak- 
