sedge
UK[sɛdʒ]US[sɛdʒ]
n
a grass-like plant that grows in wet ground or near water, typically having solid triangular stems and inconspicuous flowers.
Etymology
the word "sedge" has a deep-rooted history in the germanic languages, tracing back to the old english term "secg." this old english word is cognate with old saxon and old high german forms, all sharing the core meaning of a cutting plant or a sword-like plant, likely a reference to its sharp, grass-like leaves. the semantic connection is vividly metaphorical, linking the plant's physical characteristic—its sharp, blade-shaped foliage—to the concept of a cutting instrument. this ancient, concrete descriptor evolved directly into the modern botanical term, preserving the essential imagery of its original naming logic without significant morphological change from its old english source.
Analysis
the word is a simplex. it is a direct loan from old english 'secg', which is of germanic origin.
Examples
the damp margins of the pond were thick with sedge and rushes.
she heard the distinctive rustle of the sedge as a water vole moved through it.
the wetland restoration project focuses on replanting native sedges.