NYT Dictionary

FLEDGE

/flɛd͡ʒ/
VerbAdjectiveFLEDZGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2024, 2026

Meaning

To care for a young bird until it is capable of flight.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English flegge, fligge, flygge, from Old English *flyċġe (“able to fly, fledged”) (attested in *unflyċġe, unfligge (“unfledged”)), from Proto-West Germanic *flugi, from Proto-Germanic *flugjaz (“able to fly, fledged”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewk- (“to run, flow, be swift, flee, fly”). Cognates From Proto-Germanic: Dutch vlug (“fledged, able to fly, nimble, swift”), Low German flügg (“fledged”), German flügge, German flücke (“fledged”), Icelandic fleygur (“able to fly, fledged”)

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

flightfeatherbloomdevelopflowergrowmaturemellowripenseason

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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