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


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


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



RESET




Word of the Day

22 February 2025

ANALYSIS

(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ‘the father of the bride’ instead of ‘the bride’s father’


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

coffee icon