Sedge

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.]
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The name is sometimes given to any other plant of the
           order {Cyperaceae}, which includes {Carex}, {Cyperus},
           {Scirpus}, and many other genera of rushlike plants.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A flock of herons.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Sedge hen} (Zool.), the clapper rail. See under 5th {Rail}.
        
  
     {Sedge warbler} (Zool.), 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}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sedge
       n : grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having
           solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of
           inconspicuous flowers