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A mass of metal, especially when of a wedgelike form. "Wedges of gold." Shak.

A wedge with a graduated edge, to measure the width of a space into which it is thrust.

A friction gear wheel with wedge-shaped circumferential grooves. -- Wedge gearing.

Having the form of a wedge; cuneiform. Wedge-formed characters. See Arrow-headed characters, under Arrowheaded.

Having the shape of a wedge; cuneiform.

ecies of small marine bivalves belonging to Donax and allied genera in which the shell is wedge-shaped.

more or less attenuate; -- said of certain birds. See Illust. of Wood hoopoe, under Wood. Wedge-tailed eagle, an Australian eagle (Aquila audax) which feeds on various small species of kangaroos, and on lambs; -- called also mountain eagle, bold eagle, and eagle hawk. -- Wedge-tailed gull, an arctic gull (Rhodostethia…

An Australian crested insessorial bird (Sphenostoma cristatum) having a wedge-shaped bill. Its color is dull brown, like the earth of the plains where it lives.

In the manner of a wedge.

Not to be split with wedges. [Obs.] Shak.

Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed.

A wedge-shaped brick used in the building of an arch.

A wedge-shaped stone used in an arch; a voussoir.

ment; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle; as, drawn up in battle array. Wedged together in the closest array. Gibbon.

characters the elements of which consist of strokes resembling arrowheads, nailheads, or wedges; -- hence called also nail-headed, wedge-formed, cuneiform, or cuneatic characters; the oldest written characters used in the country about the Tigris and Euphrates, and subsequently in Persia, and abounding among the ruins…

A heavy mallet, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.

A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.

nd a blunt point, for drawing tape, ribbon, etc., through a loop or a hem; a tape needle. Wedged whole ages in a bodkin's eye. Pope.

otland they call the boots; for they put a pair of iron boots close on the leg, and drive wedges between them and the leg. Bp. Burnet.

sting of two pieces, together shaped like a leg, between which, when put into the boot, a wedge is driven. The pretty boots trimly stretched on boottrees. Thackeray.