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

Explanation

When baby birds fledge, they grow feathers that are big enough for flying. Just after they fledge, birds take their first practice flights. You can use the verb fledge in several ways — first, to describe what happens when a bird's feathers grow in. A mother bird — or human — who cares for and raises a young bird can also be said to fledge it. You can also talk about the process of putting feathers on something, especially a hunting arrow, this way: "Once you fledge the arrow, you can use it with your bow." The Old English root word is flycge, "having feathers, or fit to fly."

Example Sentences

It takes six or seven months for condors to fledge, or take their first flight from the nest.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

It gave up its life within minutes of your birth, because that was its evolved aim—to grow you out of your birth mother so that you could fledge the maternal cavity.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2024

The decline of their natural habitat means curlew often breed in farmers' hayfields where their nests can be destroyed if the grass is mown in May or June, before chicks have had time to fledge.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2024

When the “Expedia falcons” are ready to fledge, representatives from Urban Raptor will band the birds and track their migratory routes.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2024

The eggs hatch around the first week in June, and the nestlings are ready to fledge in early July.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George