He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. --Rev.
ii. 12.
Slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword.
--Shak.
2. Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme
verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
Upon the edge of yonder coppice. --Shak.
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of
battle. --Milton.
Pursue even to the very edge of destruction. --Sir
W. Scott.
3. Sharpness; readiness of fitness to cut; keenness;
intenseness of desire.
The full edge of our indignation. --Sir W.
Scott.
Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can
have, if we do not set an edge upon them by our
fears and by our vices. --Jer. Taylor.
4. The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the
beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening. ``On
the edge of winter.'' --Milton.
{Edge joint} (Carp.), a joint formed by two edges making a
corner.
{Edge mill}, a crushing or grinding mill in which stones roll
around on their edges, on a level circular bed; -- used
for ore, and as an oil mill. Called also {Chilian mill}.
{Edge molding} (Arch.), a molding whose section is made up of
two curves meeting in an angle.
{Edge plane}.
(a) (Carp.) A plane for edging boards.
(b) (Shoemaking) A plane for edging soles.
{Edge play}, a kind of swordplay in which backswords or
cutlasses are used, and the edge, rather than the point,
is employed.
{Edge rail}. (Railroad)
(a) A rail set on edge; -- applied to a rail of more depth
than width.
(b) A guard rail by the side of the main rail at a switch.
--Knight.
{Edge railway}, a railway having the rails set on edge.
{Edge tool}.
(a) Any tool instrument having a sharp edge intended for
cutting.
(b) A tool for forming or dressing an edge; an edging
tool.
{To be on edge}, to be eager, impatient, or anxious.
{To set the teeth on edge}, to cause a disagreeable tingling
sensation in the teeth, as by bringing acids into contact
with them. --Bacon.
To edge her champion's sword. --Dryden.
2. To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool.
3. To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress;
to edge a garden with box.
Hills whose tops were edged with groves. --Pope.
4. To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to
exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on. [Obs.]
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the
malicious edged. --Hayward.
5. To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing
forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards.
--Locke.
I must edge up on a point of wind. --Dryden.
{To edge away} or {off} (Naut.), to increase the distance
gradually from the shore, vessel, or other object.
{To edge down} (Naut.), to approach by slow degrees, as when
a sailing vessel approaches an object in an oblique
direction from the windward.
{To edge in}, to get in edgewise; to get in by degrees.
{To edge in with}, as with a coast or vessel (Naut.), to
advance gradually, but not directly, toward it.