Definition

Noun

  • A small ship’s anchor.

Verb

  • To warp or move a ship by using an anchor.

Origin

15th century. From the Middle English word caggen, meaning to catch or to fasten.

Comments

An earlier spelling was kadge. One of the main uses was to move a ship after a grounding or to shift berths. A kedge could also be used by small sailing vessels in a harbor as the main anchor to save time during departure or as a backup to the bower anchor in heavy weather. In modern times, ships have more efficient ground tackle, so a kedge is rarely carried anymore by larger ships.

References

Kemp, P. (1994). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press.

King, D., Hattendorf, J.B, & Estes, J.W. (1997). A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O’Brian’s Seafaring Tales (2nd Ed.). Owl Books.

Rogers, J.G. (1985). Origins of Sea Terms. Mystic Seaport.