Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bilge” come from?

Bilge comes from Middle English bilge, from Old Northern French boulge, ultimately referring to a bag or pouch.

bilge (English): The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a...

Definitions

  1. The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a...

Ancestry of “bilge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbulgeSomething sticking out from a surface; a...
2Middle Englishbulgeleather bag; hump
3Old Northern Frenchboulgeleather bag

Words derived from “bilge”

  • bilgewater
  • bilgy
  • bilgeway
  • 舭
Every word from Old Northern French boulge →