/bɪld͡ʒ/
OriginLikely derived from bulge. Compare Middle English bulgen (“to ground or scuttle a ship”).
- countable, uncountableThe rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides.
- countable, uncountableThe lowest inner part of a ship's hull, where water accumulates.
- uncountableThe water accumulated in the bilge; bilge water.
- slang, uncountableStupid talk or writing; nonsense.
“talk bilge”
“complete bilge”
“"The whole thing is the most absolute bilge and a disgrace to our legislature."”
- countable, uncountableThe bulging part of a barrel or cask.
- intransitiveTo spring a leak in the bilge.
- intransitiveTo bulge or swell.
- transitiveTo break open the bilge(s) of.
Formsbilges(plural) · bilges(present, singular, third-person) · bilging(participle, present) · bilged(participle, past) · bilged(past)