fledge
[ flej ]
/ flɛdʒ /
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verb (used with object), fledged, fledg·ing.
to bring up (a young bird) until it is able to fly.
to furnish with or as if with feathers or plumage.
to provide (an arrow) with feathers.
verb (used without object), fledged, fledg·ing.
(of a young bird) to acquire the feathers necessary for flight.
adjective
Archaic. (of young birds) able to fly.
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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 fly2
OTHER WORDS FROM fledge
fledgeless, adjectiveWords nearby fledge
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for fledge
British Dictionary definitions for fledge
fledge
/ (flɛdʒ) /
verb
(tr) to feed and care for (a young bird) until it is able to fly
Also called: fletch (tr) to fit (something, esp an arrow) with a feather or feathers
(intr) (of a young bird) to grow feathers
(tr) to cover or adorn with or as if with feathers
Word Origin for fledge
Old English -flycge, as in unflycge unfledged; related to Old High German flucki able to fly; see fly 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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