toboggan
toboggan Lexical Profile
toboggan Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A long, narrow, flat-bottomed sled made of a thin board curved upward and backward at the front, traditionally used for coasting over snow or ice.
"The children dragged their heavy wooden toboggan to the top of the snowy hill for another ride."
American A close-fitting knitted winter cap, often topped with a pom-pom.
"She pulled a wool toboggan over her ears to protect against the biting wind."
• verb
To coast or slide down a snow-covered slope on a long, flat-bottomed sled.
"We spent the entire afternoon tobogganing down the steepest hills in the neighborhood."
To decline rapidly or fall sharply.
"The company's stock price tobogganed after the disastrous earnings report was released."
Word Nuance & Usage
In parts of the American South and Midwest, 'toboggan' is widely used to refer to a knit winter hat (beanie or toque) rather than a sled, which can occasionally cause regional confusion.
• Rhymes for toboggan
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English via Canadian French from an Algonquian language, likely Mi'kmaq 'tepaqan' or Maliseet-Passamaquoddy 'tʰapáqən', meaning 'sled' or 'drag vehicle'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.