BILGE

bilge

(noun) where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom

bilge, bilge water

(noun) water accumulated in the bilge of a ship

bilge, take in water

(verb) take in water at the bilge; “the tanker bilged”

bilge

(verb) cause to leak; “the collision bilged the vessel”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

bilge (countable and uncountable, plural bilges)

(nautical) The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides.

(nautical) The lowest inner part of a ship's hull, where water accumulates.

(uncountable) The water accumulated in the bilge, the bilge water.

(slang, uncountable) Stupid talk or writing; nonsense.

The bulging part of a barrel or cask.

Verb

bilge (third-person singular simple present bilges, present participle bilging, simple past and past participle bilged)

(nautical, intransitive) To spring a leak in the bilge.

(intransitive) To bulge or swell.

(nautical, transitive) To break open the bilge(s) of.

Anagrams

• blige, gibel

Source: Wiktionary

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Bilge, n. Etym: [A different orthography of bulge, of same origin as belly. Cf. Belly, Bulge.]

1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is usually in the middle.

2. (Naut.)

Definition: That part of a ship's hull or bottom which is broadest and most nearly flat, and on which she would rest if aground.

3. Bilge water. Bilge free (Naut.), stowed in such a way that the bilge is clear of everything; -- said of a cask.

– Bilge pump, a pump to draw the bilge water from the gold of a ship.

– Bilge water (Naut.), water which collects in the bilge or bottom of a ship or other vessel. It is often allowed to remain till it becomes very offensive.

– Bilge ways, the timbers which support the cradle of a ship upon the ways, and which slide upon the launching ways in launching the vessel.

Bilge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bilged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bilging.]

1. (Naut.)

Definition: To suffer a fracture in the bilge; to spring a leak by a fracture in the bilge.

2. To bulge.

Bilge, v. t.

1. (Naut.)

Definition: To fracture the bilge of, or stave in the bottom of (a ship or other vessel).

2. To cause to bulge.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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