ledge

• IPA^(key): /lɛd͡ʒ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛdʒ
• Hyphenation: ledge
• Homophone: lege

From Middle English legge; usually considered to be from Middle English leggen, a variant of leyen (“to put, lay (down, waste to)”).

ledge (plural ledges)

1. A narrow surface projecting horizontally from a wall, cliff, or other surface.
   • 2000, “Dig”, in L.D. 50, performed by Mudvayne, 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

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.

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 ...

ledge (plural ledges)

1. (slang) Alternative form of lege (“a legend; a person held in high regard”).
   • [1], [2], [3]

Shortening of legislature.

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.

• degel, edgel, glede, gleed, leged

ledge

1. allege
   • c. 1360, Geoffrey Chaucer, Court of Love:

     To reson faste, and ledge auctoritie.