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Today it means

sled

a vehicle on runners for travelling over snow

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Where does the word "sled" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch sledde, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

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Where does the word "sled" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch sledde, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Sled’s story begins in Middle Dutch: sledde meant “sledge.” A sledge; related to 'slide'. It reached English by 1300s as sled. Americans kept 'sled', while British English mostly says 'sledge'. Today, sled means a vehicle on runners for travelling over snow.

  1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval sledde "sledge", a sledge; related to 'slide'.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s sled "sledge", Americans kept 'sled', while British English mostly says 'sledge'.

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