I. ˈslēpə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English sleper, from slepen to sleep + -er
1. : one that sleeps: as
a. : one that is inclined to sleep a great deal
a great sleeper and fond of his bed — W.M.Thackeray
b. : one that is asleep
at such a distance from the sleeper that their low words could hardly disturb her — Anthony Trollope
2. : a strong piece of wood or other material used as a support: as
a.
(1) : a horizontal beam placed on or near the ground to support a floor or superstructure
(2) : one of the heavy strips of wood that are set in or on a concrete floor base so that a wooden floor can be nailed down over the concrete base
b. : one of the knees that connect the transoms to the after timbers on a ship's quarter
c. archaic : the rafter of a roof valley
d. chiefly Britain : a railroad tie
e. : one of the longitudinal beams in a wooden bridge on which the transverse logs or planks are laid
3. : dormouse
4.
a. : a fish of the family Eleotridae
b. : greenland shark
5.
a. : a bet that is accidentally left standing on the layout of a gambling game
b. : a bet on a dead card in faro
6. : something (as a vehicle) that provides accommodation for sleeping: as
a. : sleeping car
b. : a truck with a sleeping compartment
7. : one that has no apparent importance and remains unnoticed for some time before becoming very important: as
a. : a racehorse that wins after a series of poor performances
b. : an article of merchandise having a value that is much greater than its recognized worth
c. : a book that sells well year after year without being advertised
d. : a movie whose box-office returns are out of proportion to the cost of its production and publicity and far exceed the expectations of the producers
e. : a piece of music that unexpectedly becomes a hit
f. : a provision, clause, or amendment inconspicuously introduced into legislation in the hope that it will be adopted without consideration before its actual intent or force is recognized by potential opponents
g. : a security apparently overlooked by investors and therefore selling too low in relation to the market as a whole
8. : a calf that has been earmarked but not branded
9.
a. : ruddy duck
b. : dowitcher
10. : a sleeping garment especially for children: as
a. : pajamas often with feet
b. : a sleeping bag for babies
11. : an article of merchandise that sells slowly
his unerring sense of what to buy, rarely gets stuck with sleepers — E.O.Hauser
12. : a foal that is born comatose and usually dies within a few days of birth due to intrauterine septicemic infection with one of the organisms ( Shigella equirulis or S. equuli ) commonly associated with navel ill
13. : a bowling pin that cannot be seen easily because it is directly behind another pin
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to earmark (a calf) so as to give the appearance of having been branded
III. noun
1. chiefly Britain : a small usually gold earring or stud worn especially in a recently pierced ear to prevent the hole from closing
2. : mole herein