Sleep"er , n. [Cf. Norw.
sleip a sleeper (a timber), as
adj., slippery, smooth.
See Slape.]
Something lying in a reclining posture or position. Specifically: --
(a) One of the pieces of
timber, stone, or iron, on or near the level of the
ground, for the support of some superstructure, to steady framework, to keep in place the rails of a railway, etc.; a stringpiece.
(b) One of the joists, or
roughly shaped timbers, laid
directly upon the ground, to receive the flooring of the ground
story. [U.S.]
(c)
(Naut.) One of the knees which connect the transoms to the after
timbers on the ship's quarter.
(d) (Naut.) The
lowest, or bottom, tier of casks.
Sleep"er (?), n.
1. One who
sleeps; a slumberer; hence, a drone, or lazy person.
2. That which lies dormant, as a law.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
3.
A sleeping car. [Colloq. U.S.]
4. (Zoöl.) An animal that hibernates, as the bear.
5. (Zoöl.) (a) A large fresh-water gobioid fish (Eleotris
dormatrix). (b) A nurse shark. See under Nurse.
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