Sedge

Sedge
Sedge Sedge, n. [OE. segge, AS. secg; akin to LG. segge; -- probably named from its bladelike appearance, and akin to L. secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument; cf. Ir. seisg, W. hesg. Cf. {Hassock}, {Saw} the instrument.] 1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Carex}, perennial, endogenous, innutritious herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There are several hundred species. [1913 Webster]

Note: The name is sometimes given to any other plant of the order {Cyperace[ae]}, which includes {Carex}, {Cyperus}, {Scirpus}, and many other genera of rushlike plants. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A flock of herons. [1913 Webster]

{Sedge hen} (Zo["o]l.), the clapper rail. See under 5th {Rail}.

{Sedge warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a small European singing bird ({Acrocephalus phragmitis}). It often builds its nest among reeds; -- called also {sedge bird}, {sedge wren}, {night warbler}, and {Scotch nightingale}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Sedge — may mean:Plants*Sedge, any of the numerous plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae *Sedge or sweet sedge, a name for sweet flag ( Acorus calamus ), a marshland plant in the Acoraceae family *Sedge, a name for yellow flag iris ( Iris pseudacorus ) …   Wikipedia

  • sedge — [sej] n. [ME segge < OE secg, akin to sagu, SAW1: from the shape of the leaves] any of the plants of the sedge family often found on wet ground or in water, having usually triangular, solid stems, three rows of narrow, pointed leaves, and… …   English World dictionary

  • sedge — [sedʒ] n [U] [: Old English; Origin: secg] a plant similar to grass that grows in wet ground and on the edge of rivers and lakes …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • sedge — [ sedʒ ] noun uncount a plant like grass that grows in wet areas …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • sedge — (n.) coarse grass like plant growing in wet places, O.E. secg, from P.Gmc. *sagjoz (Cf. Low Ger. segge, Ger. Segge), from PIE root *sek cut (Cf. O.E. secg sword ), on notion of plant with cutting leaves (Cf. etymological sense of gladiolus, and… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sedge — ► NOUN ▪ a grass like plant with triangular stems and inconspicuous flowers, growing typically in wet ground. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • sedge — noun Etymology: Middle English segge, from Old English secg; akin to Middle High German segge sedge, Old English sagu saw more at saw Date: before 12th century any of a family (Cyperaceae, the sedge family) of usually tufted monocotyledonous… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sedge — /sej/, n. 1. any rushlike or grasslike plant of the genus Carex, growing in wet places. Cf. sedge family. 2. any plant of the sedge family. 3. siege (def. 5). [bef. 900; ME segge, OE secg; akin to SAW1; presumably so named from its sawlike edges] …   Universalium

  • sedge — n. 1 any grasslike plant of the genus Carex with triangular stems, usu. growing in wet areas. 2 an expanse of this plant. Phrases and idioms: sedge warbler (or wren) a small warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, that breeds in sedge. Derivatives:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sedge — Recorded as Sedge, Sedger, Setch, Sedgman, Sedgeman, and locationally Sedgefield, from the village of the same spelling in County Durham, and Sedgeworth or Sedgewood, the name means the same, a now lost village in the county of Norfolk, this is… …   Surnames reference

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