A vehicle with smooth runners on the bottom, used for traveling or sliding over snow or ice. It can be pulled by people, animals, or gravity on a hill.
“Sled” comes from Middle Dutch “slēde” and is related to Old English “slīdan,” meaning “to slide.” The basic idea is a thing that slides rather than rolls. English kept the short, simple form for the winter vehicle.
“Sled,” “sledge,” and “sleigh” are all sliding cousins with slightly different shapes and histories. They all go back to the basic human joy of making things slide more easily over snow. The word is almost pure sound‑symbolism: you can practically hear it gliding.
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