hedge

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

To get away from any dangerous spot. "We saw the slop coming, and HEDGED at once."

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “hedge” mean?

To get away from any dangerous spot. "We saw the slop coming, and HEDGED at once."

Is “hedge” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.