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

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

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

When it had drifted us as far to the northward as I desired to go, I was obliged to let go a kedge in fifty fathoms water to prevent further drift.

From Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States by Semmes, Raphael

They broke a messenger chain that drove the rickety windlass in getting the stream anchor up, and the miners had to help with tackles before they could bring the kedge to the bows.

From The Secret of the Reef by Bindloss, Harold

It was not long, however, before the enemy discovered the trick the Yankee was playing, and began also to kedge.

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

Related Words

• mainstay