sleigh-bell

A silver sleigh-bell is tied to the harness of a horse pulling a sleigh.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, hollow metal ball with a slit and a loose pellet inside, attached to a sleigh or horse harness, designed to make a jingling sound when the sleigh moves. Sleigh bells are often associated with winter festivities and Christmas traditions.

Usage Examples

• (The bells attached to the harness produced a pleasant ringing noise.)
• (The jingling noise indicated a sleigh was coming nearer.)

Advanced Usage

• "to ring sleigh-bells": to produce the characteristic jingling sound of these bells.

  • The children rang sleigh-bells as they sang Christmas carols. (They shook the bells to make them jingle.)

• "sleigh-bell music": a musical piece or style that imitates or uses the sound of sleigh bells.

  • The orchestra played a lively sleigh-bell melody during the holiday concert. (The music featured the jingling sound of sleigh bells.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sleigh (n): a vehicle mounted on runners for traveling over snow or ice, often pulled by horses.

  • We took a horse-drawn sleigh through the snowy park. (A vehicle designed for snow travel.)

• Bell (n): a hollow metal object that makes a ringing sound when struck.

  • The church bell rang at noon. (A large bell used for signaling.)

Synonyms

• Jingle bell: a small bell that makes a light, tinkling sound, often used in similar contexts.
• Harness bell: a bell attached to a horse's harness for decoration or sound.

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

• "to jingle like sleigh-bells": to make a light, cheerful ringing sound.

  • Her bracelets jingled like sleigh-bells as she moved her hands. (The sound was similar to that of sleigh bells.)

• "sleigh-bell season": a colloquial term for the Christmas or winter holiday period.

  • The shops are full of decorations during sleigh-bell season. (The time of year when sleigh bells are commonly used or heard.)