wedge

wedge [wej]

n.

[ME wegge < OE wecg, akin to Ger dial. weck < IE * wogwhyo-, wedge, akin to * wogwhni-s, plowshare > L vomis, OHG waganso]

1. a piece of hard material, as wood or metal, tapering from a thick back to a thin edge that can be driven or forced into a narrow opening, as to split wood, lift a weight, or reinforce a structure

2. anything shaped like a wedge or having a wedge-shaped part [a wedge of pie ]; specif.,

a) a wedge-shaped stroke in cuneiform writing

b) a wedge-shaped tactical formation, as of troops

c) Golf an iron with a specially weighted head and the face angled to give the most loft, as for shots out of bunkers

3. any action or procedure that serves to open the way for a gradual change, disruption, intrusion, etc.

vt.

wedged, wedging

1. to split or force apart with or as with a wedge

2. to fix solidly in place by driving a wedge or wedges under, beside, etc.

3. to force or pack (in)

4. to force or crowd together in a narrow space

vi.

to push or be forced as or like a wedge

wedgelike

adj.