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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Sedge \Sedge\, noun [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.
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.
2. (Zo["o]l.) A flock of herons.
{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}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
sedge
noun: grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |