Meaning

A heavy, long handled maul or hammer used to drive stakes, wedges, etc..

Definitions by Sense

1. A heavy, long handled maul or hammer used to drive stakes, wedges, etc.
2. To hit with a sledgehammer.
3. A low sled drawn by animals, typically on snow, ice or grass.
4. (British) any type of sled or sleigh.
5. A card game resembling all fours and seven-up; old sledge.
6. To drag or draw a sledge.
7. To ride, travel with or transport in a sledge.
8. (chiefly cricket, Australia) To verbally insult or abuse an opponent in order to distract them (considered unsportsmanlike).

Example Sentences

[based on information from Major Hill, Master of the Silver Mills, in 1662, describing silver mining in Cardiganshire] They dig the Oar thus; One holds a little Picque, or Punch of Iron, having a long Handle of Wood which they call a Gad; Another with a great Iron Hammer, or Sledge, drives it into the Vein.

Sledge hammers are only used for heavy-duty persuading when working on vehicles or machinery.

The rapid and violent exertion of smiths, mightily sledging the glowing iron masses of their furnaces.

When I inquired the reason of this wire being used in the construction of the safe, I was told it was to prevent the doors being broken by either sledging or wedging.

The sledge ran far better upon the ice; I cannot say the same for the dogs.

The sledges of the Esquimaux are of large size, varying from six and a half to nine and even eleven feet in length, and from eighteen inches to two feet in breadth.

Ty'd upon the Sledge, a Papist and a Protestant in front, being two very disparate and antipathetick Companions, was a very ridiculous Science of Cruelty, even worst than Death it self (says he).

Aged wore out Coal-Horses, which after some time Wrought you will have, may serve turn for Sledge-Horses.

Word Forms

• sledges
• sledging
• sledged

Synonyms for sledge

Related Words

When Should You Use Sledge?

Use sledge when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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