ledge

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From 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.

Noun

ledge (plural ledges)

  1. A narrow surface projecting horizontally from a wall, cliff, or other surface.
    • 2000, Mudvayne, “Dig”, in L.D. 50 (nu metal), Track 2:
      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
    • 2020 September 25, Deftones, “Radiant City”, in Ohms (alternative metal):
      There's something inside this / Confusion we face / We marvel in silence / As time ticks away / Where's the ledge? / I can't touch it / But I feel it's so close
  2. A shelf on which articles may be laid.
  3. (geology) A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks.
  4. A layer or stratum.
  5. A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral.
  6. (architecture) A (door or window) lintel.
  7. (architecture) A cornice.
  8. (shipbuilding) A piece of timber to support the deck, placed athwartship between beams.
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

ledge (third-person singular simple present ledges, present participle ledging, simple past and past participle ledged)

  1. (uncommon) To cause to have, or to develop, a ledge (during mining, canal construction, building, etc).
    • 1993, Proceedings, page 87:
      [...] preparation must not remove excess dentine from the canal, and care must be taken not to ledge the canal walls.
    • 2009, Mahmoud Torabinejad, Richard E. Walton, Endodontics: Principles and Practice, Elsevier Health Sciences, →ISBN, page 330:
      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 than larger-diameter canals. In summary ...

Etymology 2

Noun

ledge (plural ledges)

  1. (slang) Alternative form of lege (“a legend; a person held in high regard”).

Etymology 3

Shortening of legislature.

Noun

ledge (plural ledges)

  1. (Canada, slang) A provincial or territorial legislature building.
    • "Alberta Legislature," Explore Edmonton [4]:
      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.
  2. (Canada, slang) A provincial or territorial legislative assembly.

Anagrams

Middle English

Verb

ledge

  1. allege
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