Refine this word faster
Toboggan
Definitions
- 1 A long sled without runners, with the front end curled upwards, which may be pulled across snow by a cord or used to coast down hills.
"Toboggan has not yet found its Way into the dictionaries, and there are other ways of spelling it."
- 2 a long narrow sled without runners; boards curve upward in front wordnet
- 3 A similar sled of wood, pulled by dogs, possibly with steel runners, made to transport cargo. Canada, US
"The old toboggan has been laid aside, and sleighs or waggons dash along the streets."
- 4 Something which, once it starts going (figuratively) downhill, is unstoppable until it reaches the bottom. figuratively
"McGinnity began to hit the toboggan in 1906, after he had pitched his arm off the previous year. Last season his efforts at times were painful."
- 5 A knit cap, designed to provide warmth in cold weather. Southern-US, Virginia, West
"Suppose we wish to make a pointed cap, such as used to be known as a toboggan cap, from yarn or worsted."
- 1 To slide down a hill on a toboggan or other object.
"Mr. Macaulay, the landlord, insisted upon trying to "toboggan" us down the mountain on the saddle cloth of one of the horses, an attempt that ended of course in disaster, for the surface was much too small for the three of us, and the snow too soft for the purpose."
- 2 move along on a luge or toboggan wordnet
- 3 To go downhill unstoppably until one reaches the bottom. figuratively
"A depression in one nation can become the slide on which our civilization would toboggan into economic collapse."
- 4 To fly sharply downward so as to build up speed to facilitate in-flight refueling of a faster aircraft. intransitive
"Aircraft returning to refuel at about three o'clock have tobogganed down to their spats in the mud whilst early in the morning one could bounce a crowbar on the frozen ground."
Etymology
The noun is attested since 1829, the verb since 1846. Both derive from French tabaganne, which derives from an Algonquian word, probably Mi'kmaq tepaqan or Abenaki dabôgan, influenced by similar words in other Eastern Canadian Algonquian languages. The sense of "hat" is recorded since 1929 and is short for toboggan cap (1928), a cap suitable for wearing while tobogganing.
The noun is attested since 1829, the verb since 1846. Both derive from French tabaganne, which derives from an Algonquian word, probably Mi'kmaq tepaqan or Abenaki dabôgan, influenced by similar words in other Eastern Canadian Algonquian languages. The sense of "hat" is recorded since 1929 and is short for toboggan cap (1928), a cap suitable for wearing while tobogganing.
See also for "toboggan"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: toboggan