Sley

Sley , noun

[Anglo-Saxon sl{not transcribed}, from sleán to strike. See Slay, transitive verb]

A weaver's reed.

A guideway in a knitting machine. — Knight

(Weaving) The number of ends per inch in the cloth, provided each dent in the reed in which it was made contained an equal number of ends. — E. Whitworth

Sley , transitive verb

To separate or part the threads of, and arrange them in a reed; -- a term used by weavers. See Sleave, and Sleid.