kedge

American  

[kej] / kɛdʒ /

verb (used with object)

kedged, kedging

1. to warp or pull (a ship) along by hauling on the cable of an anchor carried out from the ship and dropped.

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verb (used without object)

kedged, kedging

1. (of a ship) to move by being kedged.

noun

1. Also called kedge anchor.  a small anchor used in kedging.

kedge British  

/ kɛdʒ /

verb

1. to draw (a vessel) along by hauling in on the cable of a light anchor that has been dropped at some distance from it, or (of a vessel) to be drawn in this fashion

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noun

1. a light anchor, used esp for kedging

Etymology

Origin of kedge

1475–85; akin to Middle English caggen to fasten; see cadge ¹

Example Sentences

He dropped a kedge at the caucus room door, and rode up into the eye of a gentle breeze, and backed his mainsail.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Admiral trimmed ship and hauled himself off the reef with his kedge, and stood off majestically down the corridors of the Senate Office Building.

From Time Magazine Archive

A little air was felt at half-past seven, but at eight it fell calm again, when the vessels resorted to boats, long sweeps and the kedge.

From The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler

Half-overblown rubbish strewed the beach—rusty tin pans and kettles, old kedge anchors, corks, a mass of potato-parings in which three or four hens scratched, and the skeletons of a couple of disused boats.

From Mushroom Town by Onions, Oliver

We had some lunch and then set off again with two boats, another kedge and grass rope, a light cod-line and a large rocket.

From The Cruise of the 'Alerte' The narrative of a search for treasure on the desert island of Trinidad by Knight, E. F. (Edward Frederick)

Related Words

• mainstay