DREDGING

Verb

dredging

present participle of dredge

Noun

dredging (plural dredgings)

That which is dredged up.

(uncountable) the act of using a dredger or excavator to dredge a harbour, river, channel or watercourse.

Source: Wiktionary

DREDGE

Dredge, n. Etym: [F. drège, dreige, fish net, from a word akin to E. draw; cf. D. dreg, dregge, small anchor, dregnet dragnet. Draw.]

1. Any instrument used to gather or take by dragging; as: (a) A dragnet for taking up oysters, etc., from their beds. (b) A dredging machine. (c) An iron frame, with a fine net attached, used in collecting animals living at the bottom of the sea.

2. (Mining)

Definition: Very fine mineral matter held in suspension in water. Raymond.

Dredge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dredged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dredging.]

Definition: To catch or gather with a dredge; to deepen with a dredging machine. R. Carew. Dredging machine, a machine (commonly on a boat) used to scoop up mud, gravel, or obstructions from the bottom of rivers, docks, etc., so as to deepen them.

Dredge, n. Etym: [OE. dragge, F. dragée, dredge, also, sugar plum; cf. Prov. dragea, It. treggea; corrupted fr. LL. tragemata, pl., sweetmeats, Gr.

Definition: A mixture of oats and barley. [Obs.] Kersey.

Dredge, v. t.

Definition: To sift or sprinkle flour, etc., on, as on roasting meat. Beau. & Fl. Dredging box. (a) Same as 2d Dredger. (b) (Gun.) A copper box with a perforated lid; -- used for sprinkling meal powder over shell fuses. Farrow.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition