bobsled
bobsled Lexical Profile
bobsled Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A mechanically steered and braked gravity-powered sled, typically holding two or four people, used for racing down steep, narrow, banked ice tracks.
"The crew synchronized their explosive push before jumping into the bobsled for the final Olympic run."
North American The winter sport of racing down a narrow, twisting, banked ice track in a gravity-powered sled.
"She dreamed of representing her country in bobsled at the upcoming Winter Games."
• verb
North American To ride or race in a bobsled.
"They bobsledded down the treacherous icy track at speeds exceeding eighty miles per hour."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Bobsled" is primarily the North American term; "bobsleigh" is standard in British English and is the official term used by international sporting federations.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century from the verb "bob" (referring to the way early crews would bob back and forth to increase speed at the start) and "sled".
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.