sley

SaySLAY/sleɪ/

Pluralsleys

Verbsleys, sleying, sleyed

4 meanings of sley

1
nouncountable
The comb-like part of a loom that keeps the threads evenly spaced.
Like a comb that keeps hairs apart, it holds the threads in their own slots.
The weaver checked that each thread passed through the sley correctly.
A broken sley can leave uneven gaps in the finished cloth.
Similarreed
Note
2
verbtransitive
To split the threads apart and set them in order through a loom's reed.
Like sorting loose strands and slotting each one into its own gap in a comb.
Weavers sley the warp before they can begin a new piece of cloth.
She had to sley each thread carefully to avoid tangles.
Similarthread
Note
3
nouncountable
How many lengthwise threads there are in each inch of cloth.
Like counting how many lines fit in one inch: more lines mean a tighter weave.
A higher sley makes the fabric feel tight and firm.
They counted the sley to check the cloth was woven correctly.
Similarsett
Note
4
nouncountable
A track that guides moving parts inside a knitting machine.
Like a groove that keeps a drawer sliding straight in and out.
The needle slid smoothly along the sley.
Dust in the sley made the machine jam.
Similartrack, channel, groove

Practice

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Origin

From an old English word 'slege'.