fledge
[ flej ]
/ flɛdʒ /
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 fly1
OTHER WORDS FROM fledge
fledge·less, adjectiveWords nearby fledge
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for fledging
British Dictionary definitions for fledging
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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