fledge

American  

[flej] / flɛdʒ /

verb (used with object)

fledged, fledging

1. to bring up (a young bird) until it is able to fly.

2. to furnish with or as if with feathers or plumage.

3. to provide (an arrow) with feathers.

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verb (used without object)

fledged, fledging

1. (of a young bird) to acquire the feathers necessary for flight.

adjective

1. Archaic.  (of young birds) able to fly.

fledge British  

/ flɛdʒ /

verb

1. (tr) to feed and care for (a young bird) until it is able to fly

2. Also called: fletch.  (tr) to fit (something, esp an arrow) with a feather or feathers

3. (intr) (of a young bird) to grow feathers

4. (tr) to cover or adorn with or as if with feathers

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Other Word Forms

• fledgeless adjective

Etymology

Origin of fledge

1350–1400; Middle English flegge (fully-)fledged, Old English *flecge, as variant of -flycge; cognate with Old High German flucki, Middle Low German vlügge (> German flügge ); akin to fly ²

Example Sentences

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the draft document was not fully fledged, describing it instead as a "list of topics and options".

From BBC

Among the Facebook watchers excitement is building ahead of the expected fledging.

From BBC

Edmed has only started three Tests in his fledging Wallabies career and will face a tough test against England's vastly experienced George Ford on Saturday.

From BBC

It was also a turbulent time - the Tate's collection tracks the nation's journey from a British colony, to a fledging, independent country, to the setting of a grisly civil war.

From BBC

YouTube TV backed away from its earlier demand to fold programming created for Peacock, NBCUniversal’s fledging streaming service, onto the YouTube platform as part of its customer packages at no extra cost.

From Los Angeles Times