Sleigh
(Sleigh) n. [Cf. D. & LG. slede, slee, Icel. slei. See Sled.] A vehicle moved on runners, and
used for transporting persons or goods on snow or ice; — in England commonly called a sledge.
Sleigh bell,
a small bell attached either to a horse when drawing a slegh, or to the sleigh itself; especially
a globular bell with a loose ball which plays inside instead of a clapper.
Sleighing
(Sleigh"ing), n.
1. The act of riding in a sleigh.
2. The state of the snow or ice which admits of running sleighs.
Sleight
(Sleight) n. [OE. sleighte, sleihte, sleithe, Icel. slg (for slg) slyness, cunning, fr. slgr (for
slgr) sly, cunning. See Sly.]
1. Cunning; craft; artful practice. [Obs.] "His sleight and his covin." Chaucer.
2. An artful trick; sly artifice; a feat so dexterous that the manner of performance escapes observation.
The world hath many subtle sleights.
Latimer. 3. Dexterous practice; dexterity; skill. Chaucer. "The juggler's sleight." Hudibras.
Sleight of hand,
legerdemain; prestidigitation.
Sleightful
(Sleight"ful) a. Cunning; dexterous. [Obs.]
Sleightly
(Sleight"ly) adv. Cinningly. [Obs.] Huloet.
Sleighty
(Sleight"y) a. Cinning; sly. [Obs.] Huloet.
Slender
(Slen"der) a. [Compar. Slenderer ; superl. Slenderest.] [OE. slendre, sclendre, fr. OD.
slinder thin, slender, perhaps through a French form; cf. OD. slinderen, slidderen, to creep; perh. akin to
E. slide.]
1. Small or narrow in proportion to the length or the height; not thick; slim; as, a slender stem or stalk of
a plant. "A slender, choleric man." Chaucer.
She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore.
Milton. 2. Weak; feeble; not strong; slight; as, slender hope; a slender constitution.
Mighty hearts are held in slender chains.
Pope.
They have inferred much from slender premises.
J. H. Newman.
The slender utterance of the consonants.
J. Byrne. 3. Moderate; trivial; inconsiderable; slight; as, a man of slender intelligence.
A slender degree of patience will enable him to enjoy both the humor and the pathos.
Sir W. Scott. 4. Small; inadequate; meager; pitiful; as, slender means of support; a slender pittance.
Frequent begging makes slender alms.
Fuller.