bilge

bilge

bilge.
1. That part of the floors of a ship on either side of the keel which approaches nearer to a horizontal than a vertical direction. It is where the floors and the second futtocks unite, and upon which the ship would rest when it took the ground. Hence, when a ship was holed in this part it was said to be bilged. Being the lowest part of the ship inside the hull, it is naturally where any internal water, known as bilge water, collects and where the suction of the bilge pump is placed to clear it. These spaces on either side of the keel are collectively known as the bilges.

2. The largest circumference of a cask in the vicinity of its bung.

3. In naval parlance, the word used to describe an untrue, or nonsensical, statement.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"bilge." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bilge." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-bilge.html

"bilge." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-bilge.html

Learn more about citation styles

bilge

bilge / bilj/ • n. the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides. ∎  bilgewater. ∎ fig., inf. nonsense; rubbish: romantic bilge dreamed up by journalists.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"bilge." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bilge." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bilge.html

"bilge." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bilge.html

Learn more about citation styles

bilge

bilge n.
1. the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides.

2. (bilges) the lowest internal portion of the hull.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"bilge." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bilge." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-bilge.html

"bilge." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-bilge.html

Learn more about citation styles

bilge

bilge bottom of a ship's hull XV; filth collecting there XIX (cf. bilge water XVIII). prob. var. of BULGE, used in the same senses.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "bilge." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "bilge." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bilge.html

T. F. HOAD. "bilge." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bilge.html

Learn more about citation styles

bilge

bilge •bilge •bulge, divulge, indulge, promulge

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"bilge." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bilge." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bilge.html

"bilge." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bilge.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Bilge water conditioning.
Magazine article from: Marine Log; 11/1/2000
Polishing up bilge water.(GREEN TECHNOLOGY)
Magazine article from: Marine Log; 3/1/2006
EARTH CORP. INTRODUCES BILGE WATER SYSTEM.
Magazine article from: Industrial Environment; 9/1/2000

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of bilge