fledge

To fledge is defined as to grow the feathers necessary to fly, or to take care of a baby bird until it can fly.

(verb)

An example of fledge is for a young swallow to get the feathers needed to help it fly.
An example of fledge is for a mother bird to tend to her chicks in a nest.

See fledge in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to grow the feathers necessary for flying

Origin: < ME flegge, ready to fly < OE (un)flycge, (un)fledged, akin to MHG vlücke, MDu vlugghe: for IE base see fly

transitive verb

to rear (a young bird) until it is able to fly
to supply or adorn with or as if with feathers or down; specif., to fit (an arrow, etc.) with feathers

See fledge in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb fledged fledged, fledg·ing, fledg·es

verb, transitive

verb, intransitive

To grow the plumage necessary for flight.

Origin:

Origin: Probably from obsolete fledge, feathered

Origin: , from Middle English flegge

Origin: , from Old English *flycge; see pleu- in Indo-European roots

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