Ledges

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlɛd͡ʒɪz/

Definitions

1. A narrow shelf or projection along a surface, often found on cliffs or walls
2. A flat area that extends from a vertical or sloped face, providing space for standing or placing objects
3. A geological feature where a rocky outcrop forms a barrier or gives structure to a landscape

Etymology: The plural of "ledge" tells a story about layers. Its ancestor, Old English "leċġ", meant a bar or crossbeam, and that sense of something laid across or set in place is still visible in the modern word. The Proto-Germanic root behind it, "lagjō", meant a layer or stratum, and the same root gives Dutch "leg", meaning a layer, and a Low German word for a fold or flat layer of rock. A ledge, then, is essentially a layer of stone that sticks out from a surface. The word has deeper roots in the idea of lying down. Its Proto-Indo-European ancestor, "legʰ-", meant "to lie, recline", and Old English "leċġan" meant "to lay", the verb that gave us "lay" in the sense of putting something down. Old English also had "ġeleċġ", meaning arrangement or layout, which survives in compounds describing the disposition of the limbs.

Synonyms: shelves, overhangs, projections