kedge

Perhaps an alteration of cadge.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /kɛdʒ/

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• Rhymes: -ɛdʒ

kedge (plural kedges)

1. (nautical) A small anchor used for warping a vessel; also called a kedge anchor.
   • 1896, J.C. Hutcheson, "Young Tom Bowling":

     The chaps who had gone off in the cutter had been equally spry with their job, bending on a stout hemp hawser through the ring of the kedge anchor, which they dropped some half a cable's length from the brig, bringing back the other end aboard, where it was put round the capstan on the forecastle.

2. (Yorkshire) A glutton.

kedge (third-person singular simple present kedges, present participle kedging, simple past and past participle kedged)

1. (transitive) To warp (a vessel) by carrying out a kedge in a boat, dropping it overboard, and hauling the vessel up to it.
2. (intransitive, of a vessel) To move with the help of a kedge, as described above.
   • 1911, Harry Collingwood, "Overdue":

     […] there was a stretch of twelve miles of channel running in a north-easterly direction which the ship could not possibly negotiate under sail unless a change of wind should occur — of which there seemed to be absolutely no prospect. The only alternative, therefore, would be to kedge those twelve miles; truly a most formidable undertaking for four persons — one of them being a girl — to attempt.

   • 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

     By noon the men had loaded the cargo & Prophetess was kedging out of the bay against unfavourable winds.