sleighbell

C2+ Topic:Transportation
US /ˈsleɪbɛl/ UK /ˈsleɪbɛl/
noun Freq #542268

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a small hollow bell, typically containing a loose pellet, attached to a sleigh or harness so that it jingles during travel

    The distant sleighbell jingled as the horse crossed the frozen road.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a small hollow bell,... sleigh belljingle bell
Word family
Forms sleigh-bells
Related forms sleighharness belljingle

Etymology

A compound of sleigh + bell, also commonly written sleigh bell or sleigh-bell. Such bells warned pedestrians and other travelers of a nearly silent sleigh approaching over snow; their bright jingle later became strongly associated with winter and Christmas music.

Topics

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