kedge

UK: /kɛdʒ/ US: (kej)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

kedge  (kej), v., kedged, kedg•ing, n. [Naut.]
v.t. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to warp or pull (a ship) along by hauling on the cable of an anchor carried out from the ship and dropped.

v.i. 

2. Nautical, Naval Terms (of a ship) to move by being kedged.

n. 

3. Nautical, Naval Terms Also called kedge′ an′chor. a small anchor used in kedging.

• 1475–85; akin to Middle English caggen to fasten; see cadge¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

kedge / 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

noun

1. a light anchor, used esp for kedging

Etymology: 15th Century: from caggen to fasten