sley

1 of 2

noun

variants or slay or sleigh

ˈslā 

plural -s

1

a

: a weaver's reed

b

: a movable frame in a loom that carries the reed

2

: a guideway in a knitting machine

3

: the number of warp ends per inch in a cloth

4

: a device in a lace machine that contains small holes through which some warp ends pass and is used in selecting the pattern

sley

2 of 2

transitive verb

"

-ed/-ing/-s

: to separate and arrange in a reed the threads of (the warp)

sleyer

-lāə(r)

-le(ə)r

-leə

noun

plural -s

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sleye, slay, from Old English slege, literally, act of beating, stroke; akin to Old High German slag blow, Old Norse slagr, Old English slēan to strike, beat, slay

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