/lɛd͡ʒ/, /led͡ʒ/
OriginFrom Middle English legge, from Old English leċġ (“bar, crossbeam”), from Proto-West Germanic *laggju (“layer, strip, ledge, rung, bar”), from Proto-Germanic *lagjō (“layer, stratum”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie, recline”). Cognate with West Frisian lêch (“a layer of sheaves on a threshing floor”), Dutch leg (“layer”), German Low German Legg (“wrinkle, fold, flat layer, stratum”), Middle High German legge, lecke (“position, layer, stratum, tier; pleat, hem”). Related to Middle English leggen (“to lay, apply”), from Old English leċġan (“to lay”); and Old English *ġeleċġ (“positioning, arrangement, layout”) as in Old English limġeleċġ (“the disposition of the limbs, form, shape”). More at lay.
- A narrow surface projecting horizontally from a wall, cliff, or other surface.
“Let me help you tie the rope around your neck / Let me help to talk you the wrong way off the ledge / Let me help you hold the Glock against your head”
- A shelf on which articles may be laid.
- A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks.
- A layer or stratum.
- A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral.
- A (door or window) lintel.
- A cornice.
- A piece of timber to support the deck, placed athwartship between beams.
- Canada, slangA provincial or territorial legislature building.
“Known to Edmontonians as "the Ledge", the Alberta Legislature Building is a marvel of marble pillars, carved oak, beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture and stunning grounds.”
- Canada, slangA provincial or territorial legislative assembly.
- uncommonTo cause to have, or to develop, a ledge (during mining, canal construction, building, etc).
“[...] preparation must not remove excess dentine from the canal, and care must be taken not to ledge the canal walls.”
“Length Longer canals are more prone to ledging than shorter canals. Careful attention to maintaining patency is required to prevent ledging.
Initial Size Smaller-diameter canals are more easily ledged”
Formsledges(plural) · ledges(present, singular, third-person) · ledging(participle, present) · ledged(participle, past) · ledged(past)
Source: Wiktionary