Etymology : Middle English segge, from Old English secg; akin to Middle High German segge sedge, Old English sagu saw; more at SAW
Pronunciation : 'sej
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. any of several varieties of grass-like wetland plants with solid triangular stems. 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.].
2. (bot.) any plant of the genus carex, perennial, endogenous 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.note: the name is sometimes given to any other plant of the order cyperace?, which includes carex, cyperus, scirpus, and many other genera of rushlike plants.
3. (zo?l.) a flock of herons.sedge ken (zo?l.), the clapper rail. see:
under 5th rail.sedge warbler (zo?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.sedge grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers.
4. Any plant of the genus Carex, perennial, endogenous, innutritious herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places.
5. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib.
6. There are several hundred species.
7. A flock of herons. grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers.
8. Sedge is a plant that looks like grass and grows in wet ground. Any of numerous grasslike plants of the family Cyperaceae, having solid stems, leaves in three vertical rows, and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers, with each flower subtended by a scalelike bract. a plant similar to grass that grows in wet ground and on the edge of rivers and lakes.