Pronunciation: [slˈe͡ɪ] (IPA) 
The word "sley" is spelled with four letters, pronounced as /sleɪ/. In weaving, a sley is a comb-like tool used to push the weft yarn down into place on a loom. The spelling of sley may seem unusual, but it follows the established conventions of English spelling. The "s" and "l" sounds are pronounced as they are in words like "slice" and "slip". The "e-y" ending is also frequently used in English, as seen in words like "key" and "grey".
Sley is a verb that primarily refers to the act of threading yarn or thread through the warp (vertical) threads of a loom. It is a necessary step in the process of weaving, which involves interlacing weaving yarns or threads to create fabric or textiles. Sleying typically requires the use of a sley hook or sleying hook, a tool designed to assist in pulling the yarn through the warp threads.
To sley, one must carefully guide the yarn or thread through the individual threads of the warp, ensuring it passes over and under the appropriate threads to create the desired weave pattern. This process must be done with precision and attention to detail to ensure a uniform and stable fabric.
Sleying is a crucial step in loom weaving, as it lays the foundation for the weaving process. It prepares the loom for the insertion of the weft (horizontal) threads, which will interlace with the warp to form the fabric. This step is often repeated multiple times as different colors or types of yarn are threaded through the warp, allowing for the creation of intricate designs or patterns.
Overall, sleying is a fundamental technique in the art of weaving, enabling the weaver to transform yarn into woven fabric through careful threading of the warp threads.
• A weaver's reed.
• To part threads and arrange them in the reed or sley.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "sley" has its origins in Middle English, deriving from the Old English word "slēa". The term has undergone some changes over time. It originally referred to a tool used in weaving called a "slay" or "sley", which was used to push the weft threads into place in a loom. This tool later came to be known as a "sleying hook".
The word "sley" can also refer to the reed on a loom, which is a comb-like device that holds the warp threads in place, separating and spacing them appropriately. The term "sley" in this context came from combining the words "slēa" (meaning "sledge") and "hǣr" (meaning "comb"), referring to the combing action performed by the reed.
