noun

sledge

slehj

noun

A heavy, long-handled hammer used for driving stakes or breaking things apart; short for sledgehammer.

"He swung the sledge into the old wall until the bricks gave way."

A low, heavy sled typically pulled by animals over snow or ice.

"The sledge crossed the frozen lake loaded with firewood."

verb

(cricket, informal) To taunt or verbally needle an opposing player to put them off their game.

"The bowler tried to sledge the batsman between deliveries, muttering insults just loud enough to hear."

How to Use Sledge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a big hammer, a heavy animal-drawn sled, or (in cricket) trash-talking an opponent.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "sled" — a sledge is generally heavier and, in Commonwealth English, often just means a sled; "sledging" as trash-talk is a cricket-specific slang meaning.

Easily confused with

sled → sledgehammer →

Word Forms

sledged past tense, sledged past tense, sledged past tense, sledges plural, sledges plural, sledges plural, sledges singular, sledges singular, sledges singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He swung the _____ into the old wall until the bricks gave way.

Etymology

From Old English sleċġ, "mallet, hammer" — the same Germanic root gave Dutch and Swedish words for a heavy hammer.

Rhymes for sledge

edge wedge hedge ledge pledge dredge Rutledge knowledge acknowledge

See all rhymes for sledge →