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hedge

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hedge

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hedge  \Hedge\,  n.  [OE.  hegge,  AS  hecg;  akin  to  haga  an 
  inclosure,  E.  haw,  AS  hege  hedge,  E.  haybote,  D.  hegge,  OHG. 
  hegga,  G.  hecke.  [root]12.  See  {Haw}  a  hedge.] 
  A  thicket  of  bushes,  usually  thorn  bushes;  especially,  such  a 
  thicket  planted  as  a  fence  between  any  two  portions  of  land; 
  and  also  any  sort  of  shrubbery,  as  evergreens,  planted  in  a 
  line  or  as  a  fence;  particularly,  such  a  thicket  planted 
  round  a  field  to  fence  it  or  in  rows  to  separate  the  parts 
  of  a  garden. 
 
  The  roughest  berry  on  the  rudest  hedge.  --Shak. 
 
  Through  the  verdant  maze  Of  sweetbrier  hedges  I  pursue 
  my  walk.  --Thomson. 
 
  Note:  Hedge,  when  used  adjectively  or  in  composition,  often 
  means  rustic,  outlandish,  illiterate,  poor,  or  mean 
  as  hedge  priest;  hedgeborn,  etc 
 
  {Hedge  bells},  {Hedge  bindweed}  (Bot.),  a  climbing  plant 
  related  to  the  morning-glory  ({Convolvulus  sepium}). 
 
  {Hedge  bill},  a  long-handled  billhook. 
 
  {Hedge  garlic}  (Bot.),  a  plant  of  the  genus  {Alliaria}.  See 
  {Garlic  mustard},  under  {Garlic}. 
 
  {Hedge  hyssop}  (Bot.),  a  bitter  herb  of  the  genus  {Gratiola}, 
  the  leaves  of  which  are  emetic  and  purgative. 
 
  {Hedge  marriage},  a  secret  or  clandestine  marriage, 
  especially  one  performed  by  a  hedge  priest.  [Eng.] 
 
  {Hedge  mustard}  (Bot.),  a  plant  of  the  genus  {Sisymbrium}, 
  belonging  to  the  Mustard  family. 
 
  {Hedge  nettle}  (Bot.),  an  herb,  or  under  shrub,  of  the  genus 
  {Stachys},  belonging  to  the  Mint  family.  It  has  a 
  nettlelike  appearance,  though  quite  harmless. 
 
  {Hedge  note}. 
  a  The  note  of  a  hedge  bird. 
  b  Low  contemptible  writing.  [Obs.]  --Dryden. 
 
  {Hedge  priest},  a  poor,  illiterate  priest.  --Shak. 
 
  {Hedge  school},  an  open-air  school  in  the  shelter  of  a  hedge, 
  in  Ireland;  a  school  for  rustics. 
 
  {Hedge  sparrow}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  European  warbler  ({Accentor 
  modularis})  which  frequents  hedges.  Its  color  is  reddish 
  brown,  and  ash;  the  wing  coverts  are  tipped  with  white. 
  Called  also  {chanter},  {hedge  warbler},  {dunnock},  and 
  {doney}. 
 
  {Hedge  writer},  an  insignificant  writer,  or  a  writer  of  low 
  scurrilous  stuff.  [Obs.]  --Swift. 
 
  {To  breast  up  a  hedge}.  See  under  {Breast}. 
 
  {To  hang  in  the  hedge},  to  be  at  a  standstill.  ``While  the 
  business  of  money  hangs  in  the  hedge.''  --Pepys. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hedge  \Hedge\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  shelter  one's  self  from  danger,  risk,  duty, 
  responsibility,  etc.,  as  if  by  hiding  in  or  behind  a 
  hedge;  to  skulk;  to  slink;  to  shirk  obligations. 
 
  I  myself  sometimes  leaving  the  fear  of  God  on  the 
  left  hand  and  hiding  mine  honor  in  my  necessity,  am 
  fain  to  shuffle,  to  hedge  and  to  lurch.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  (Betting)  To  reduce  the  risk  of  a  wager  by  making  a  bet 
  against  the  side  or  chance  one  has  bet  on 
 
  3.  To  use  reservations  and  qualifications  in  one's  speech  so 
  as  to  avoid  committing  one's  self  to  anything  definite. 
 
  The  Heroic  Stanzas  read  much  more  like  an  elaborate 
  attempt  to  hedge  between  the  parties  than  .  .  .  to 
  gain  favor  from  the  Roundheads.  --Saintsbury. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hedge  \Hedge\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Hedged};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Hedging}.] 
  1.  To  inclose  or  separate  with  a  hedge;  to  fence  with  a 
  thickly  set  line  or  thicket  of  shrubs  or  small  trees;  as 
  to  hedge  a  field  or  garden. 
 
  2.  To  obstruct,  as  a  road,  with  a  barrier;  to  hinder  from 
  progress  or  success;  --  sometimes  with  up  and  out 
 
  I  will  hedge  up  thy  way  with  thorns.  --Hos.  ii  6. 
 
  Lollius  Urbius  .  .  .  drew  another  wall  .  .  .  to 
  hedge  out  incursions  from  the  north.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  To  surround  for  defense;  to  guard;  to  protect;  to  hem 
  (in).  ``England,  hedged  in  with  the  main.''  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  surround  so  as  to  prevent  escape. 
 
  That  is  a  law  to  hedge  in  the  cuckoo.  --Locke. 
 
  {To  hedge  a  bet},  to  bet  upon  both  sides;  that  is  after 
  having  bet  on  one  side  to  bet  also  on  the  other  thus 
  guarding  against  loss 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  hedge 
  n  1:  a  fence  formed  by  a  row  of  closely  planted  shrubs  or  bushes 
  [syn:  {hedgerow}] 
  2:  taking  two  positions  that  will  offset  each  other  if  prices 
  change  and  so  limiting  financial  risk  [syn:  {hedging}] 
  3:  an  intentionally  noncommittal  or  ambiguous  statement  [syn:  {hedging}] 
  v  :  avoid  or  try  to  avoid,  as  of  duties,  questions  and  issues; 
  "He  dodged  the  issue"  [syn:  {fudge},  {evade},  {put  off}, 
  {circumvent},  {parry},  {elude},  {skirt},  {dodge},  {duck}, 
  {sidestep}]




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