ridge
UK[rɪdʒ]US[rɪdʒ]
n
A long, narrow raised part of a surface, especially along the top of a mountain
n
A long, narrow area of high pressure in the atmosphere
n
The top edge of the roof where two sloping sides meet
Etymology
The word 'ridge' originates from the Old English 'hrycg', meaning the back of a person or animal, or the crest of a hill. This term is of Germanic origin, related to the Dutch 'rug' and the German 'Rücken', both meaning 'back'. The conceptual link is clear: the raised, linear form of a backbone is metaphorically extended to describe any similar geographical or architectural feature. Over time, the meaning broadened from the literal anatomical sense to encompass the crest of a hill, a long narrow mountain range, and the raised line where two sloping surfaces meet, while the initial 'h' sound was lost in its transition to Middle English.
Analysis
The word 'ridge' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
We walked along the narrow ridge with steep drops on either side.
A ridge of high pressure will bring sunny weather to the region.
The carpenter repaired the damaged ridge of the barn roof.