cledge
(klɛdʒ)
[Of doubtful origin: probably connected with clag, as an umlaut derivative of same root.
If cledge went back to OE., its form would be clecg:—original *clagja-, or clagjo-; cf. edge, hedge. The latter correspond to Ger. eck(e, hecke, and it is possible that the analogue of cledge is kleck, klecke in sense ‘heap of dirt, sticky mass’: see kleck 2 a, in Grimm. Connexion with clay, OE. clǽᵹ, is excluded by the fact that there the ᵹ represents not palatalized g, but original j(y), klaijo-.]
A local name for clay or clayey soil, in Kent, etc.; also technically applied to the upper of the two beds of Fuller's Earth, in Bedfordshire, and elsewhere in England.
| 1723 Holloway in Phil. Trans. XXXII. 419 The Fullers-Earth; the upper Layer of which, being about a Foot deep, they call the Cledge [in Bedfordsh.]. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v. Fuller's earth, The upper stratum of this [at Wavedon, Beds.] is about a foot thick, and they call it cledge. 1768 Projects in Ann. Reg. 108/1 Clay, or brick-earth, strong cledge, flint-gravel, etc. 1887 Kentish Gloss. (E.D.S.), Cledge, clay; stiff loam. |