ledge

[lej]

noun

1. a relatively narrow, projecting part, as a horizontal, shelflike projection on a wall or a raised edge on a tray.

2. a more or less flat shelf of rock protruding from a cliff or slope.

3. a reef, ridge, or line of rocks in the sea or other body of water.

4. Mining.

   1. a layer or mass of rock underground.

   2. a lode or vein.

5. Carpentry.,  a member similar to but larger than a cleat.

6. Shipbuilding.,  a minor transverse deck beam running between regular deck beams to form part of a coaming.

verb (used with object)

ledged, ledging 

1. to assemble (a door or the like) with ledges.

ledge

/ lɛdʒ /

noun

1. a narrow horizontal surface resembling a shelf and projecting from a wall, window, etc

2. a layer of rock that contains an ore; vein

3. a ridge of rock that lies beneath the surface of the sea

4. a narrow shelflike rock projection on a cliff or mountain

Other Word Forms

• ledgeless adjective
• unledged adjective
• ledgy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ledge¹

1300–50; Middle English legge, perhaps derivative of leggen to lay ¹; compare Middle High German legge layer, edge, Old English lecg part of a weapon

Word History and Origins

Origin of ledge¹

C14 legge, perhaps from leggen to _lay ¹

Example Sentences

In the covered outdoor corridors, Irhil and the other families have appropriated the space, setting up planters on ledges, a dish-washing station in a classroom sink, and clotheslines between the columns.

Read more on Barron's

Weeds poked up from neglected garden beds and dozens of orange sandbags sat on ledges and columns, for no apparent reason.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then in spring this year, cameras set up as part of the rat eradication programme caught two puffins coming and going from a nesting burrow on the cliff ledges.

Read more on BBC

They can be seen running up and down flapping their wings on the ledge – 34 storeys high – while their mother has been flying past with pigeons in her talons.

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The octopus crawled onto a rocky ledge and squeezed her big squishy body into a small crevice.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• berm 
• ridge 
• rim 
• sill