luge
UK[luːʒ]US[luːʒ]
n
A light sled for one or two people, ridden in a sitting or lying position, used for racing down a steep ice-covered track.
v
To ride on a luge.
Etymology
The word 'luge' entered English in the early 20th century directly from French, where it referred to a small coasting sled. The French term itself originates from the Franco-Provençal dialect of the Savoy region in the Alps. While its ultimate etymology is uncertain, it may be related to the Gaulish word sludia, meaning 'sled', which itself could derive from the Proto-Indo-European root sleidh-, meaning 'to slide, slip'. This etymological journey—from an ancient concept of sliding, through a regional Alpine term for a practical vehicle, to its modern specification as a high-speed Olympic sporting equipment—perfectly encapsulates the object's function and its cultural origin in winter sports.
Analysis
The word 'luge' is a direct loanword from French. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English spelling. Its origin is from the Franco-Provençal (Savoyard dialect) word 'luge', meaning 'coasting sled'.
Examples
She won a silver medal in the women's singles luge event.
The athletes will luge down the treacherous course at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour.
We borrowed a luge from the resort to slide down the gentle hill.