SLEE'PER, noun 1. A person that sleeps; also, a drone or lazy person. 2. That which lies dormant, as a law not executed. [Not in use.] 3. AN animal that lies dormant in winter, as the bear, the marmot, _ c. 4. In building, the oblique rafter that lies in a gutter, 5. In New England, a floor timber. 6. In ship-building, a thick piece of timber placed longitudinally in a ship's hold, opposite the several scarfs of the timbers, for strengthening the bows and stern-frame, particularly in the Greenland ships; or a piece of long compass-timber fayed and bolted diagonally upon the transoms. 7. In the glass trade, a large iron bar crossing the smaller ones, hindering the passage of coals, but leaving room for the ashes. 8. A platform. 9. A fish. [exocatus.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI