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.

Words nearby fledge

fleck, flecker, flection, fled, fledermaus, die, fledge, fledged, fledgling, fledgy, flee, fleece

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, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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

But they are backward in fledging, chickens bred from immature fowls being the most backward.
Poultry|Hugh Piper
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
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

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