Editing Sled (section)

{{Short description|Land vehicle used for sliding across snow or ice}}
{{About|the vehicle|other uses|SLED (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Sledge|Sleigh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

[[File:Uphill Sleigh Ride.jpg|thumb|Two people in a horse-drawn cutter-style sleigh]]
[[File:Volunteer Mushing on Wonder Lake (7065286379).jpg|thumb|A loaded dogsled]]
[[File:Portrait of Dwight and Inet Holcombe sledding, Stillwater, Minnesota - DPLA - 3462d0d5451f8ff27ed9332d27385fbf (cropped).jpg|thumb|Children with their sled, 1903]]
[[File:Boy on snow sled, 1945.jpg|thumb|Boy lying on a [[Flexible Flyer]]]]
[[File:Traveling by sleigh, Muscovy, 16th c (cropped).jpg|thumb|Traveling by sleigh, [[Tsardom of Russia|Muscovy]], mid-16th century, according to [[Sigismund von Herberstein]]]]
A '''sled''', '''skid''', '''sledge''', or '''sleigh''' is a [[land vehicle]] that slides across a surface, usually of [[ice]] or [[snow]]. It is built with either a smooth underside or a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners similar in principle to [[ski]]s. This reduces the amount of [[friction]], which helps to carry heavy loads.

Some designs are used to transport passengers or cargo across relatively level ground. Others are designed to go downhill for recreation, particularly by children, or competition (compare [[cross-country skiing]] with its [[downhill skiing|downhill cousin]]). Shades of meaning differentiating the three terms often reflect regional variations depending on historical uses and prevailing climate.

In [[British English]], ''sledge'' is the general term, and more common than ''sled''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sledge|title=Collins 2012 digital edition}}</ref>  ''[[Toboggan]]'' is sometimes used synonymously with ''sledge'' but more often to refer to a particular type of sledge without runners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/toboggan|title=Collins 2012 digital edition}}</ref>  ''Sleigh'' refers to a moderate to large-sized, usually open-topped vehicle to carry passengers or goods, and typically drawn by horses, dogs, or reindeer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sleigh|title=Collins 2012 digital edition}}</ref>
 
In [[American English|American usage]] ''sled'' remains the general term{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} but often implies a smaller device, often for recreational use. ''Sledge'' implies a heavier sled used for moving freight or massive objects.  ''Sleigh'' refers more specifically than in Britain to a vehicle which is essentially a cold-season alternative to a [[carriage]] or [[wagon]] and has seating for passengers; what can be called a dog-sleigh in Britain is known only as a dog-sled in North America.

In [[Australian English|Australia]], where there is limited snow, ''sleigh'' and ''sledge'' are given equal preference in local parlance.<ref name="Mac">{{cite book |title= The [[Macquarie Dictionary]], 2nd ed.|year=1991|publisher= Macquarie Library |location=North Ryde }}</ref>