fledge

[flej]

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.

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 fly¹

Related formsfledge·less, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fledging

Contemporary Examples of fledging

But come June, the fledging African-American cable network Aspire wants you to have choices.
Magic Johnson’s Network Set to Launch Talk Show
Allison Samuels
May 11, 2013
Block was Wisconsin state director for the fledging Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group funded by the Koch brothers.
The Man in Cain's Smoking Video
David A. Graham
October 25, 2011
Now, that hubris might lead to the dismantling of her fledging cartel, as the Argentine police claim to be hot on her tracks.
Lingerie Drug Lord
Constantino Diaz-Duran
February 25, 2010

Historical Examples of fledging

If the nest was started on June 20, then renesting took place within 15 hours after fledging.
Natural History of the Bell Vireo, Vireo bellii Audubon
Jon C. Barlow
The young at fledging are usually completely feathered, but have notably short tails and relatively short, stubby wings.
Natural History of the Bell Vireo, Vireo bellii Audubon
Jon C. Barlow
Human interference may have been largely responsible for the fledging of the young at nine days.
Natural History of the Bell Vireo, Vireo bellii Audubon
Jon C. Barlow
In fledging arrows Ishi used eagle, buzzard, hawk or flicker feathers.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow
Saxton Pope
This is made by constructing the usual blunt screw-headed shaft and fledging it with wide uncut feathers.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow
Saxton Pope

British Dictionary definitions for fledging

fledge

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fledging

fledge

Old English *-flycge (Kentish -flecge),an adjective meaning "having the feathers, fit to fly," from West Germanic *fluggja- (cf. Middle Dutch vlugge, Low German flügge), from root meaning "to fly" (see fly (v.)). As a verb, it is first attested in English 1560s. Related: Fledged; fledging.