fledge

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English flegge, fligge, flygge, from Old English *flyċġe (“able to fly, fledged”) (attested in *unflyċġe, unfligge (“unfledged”)), from Proto-Germanic *flugjaz (“able to fly, fledged”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to run, flow, be swift, flee, fly”).

Cognates

From Proto-Germanic: Dutch vlug (“fledged, able to fly, nimble, swift”), Low German flügge (“fledged”), German flügge, German flücke (“fledged”), Icelandic fleygur (“able to fly, fledged”)

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /flɛdʒ/
  • Rhymes: -ɛdʒ

Verb

fledge (third-person singular simple present fledges, present participle fledging, simple past and past participle fledged)

  1. (transitive) To care for a young bird until it is capable of flight.
  2. (intransitive) To grow, cover or be covered with feathers.
  3. (transitive) To decorate with feathers.
  4. (intransitive) To complete the last moult and become a winged adult insect.

Derived terms

Adjective

fledge (not comparable)

  1. (archaic) Feathered; furnished with feathers or wings; able to fly.
    • Milton
      his shoulders, fledge with wings
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