# bilge

> English word · Noun · IPA /bɪld͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #43,058

## Definitions
1. The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides.
2. The lowest inner part of a ship's hull, where water accumulates.
3. The water accumulated in the bilge; bilge water.
4. Stupid talk or writing; nonsense.
5. The bulging part of a barrel or cask.

## Etymology
Likely derived from bulge. Compare Middle English bulgen (“to ground or scuttle a ship”).

## Easily confused with
- **BLE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-ble)
- **bill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bill)
- **blue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-blue)
- **bite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bite)
- **bing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bing)
- **bills** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bills)
- **billy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-billy)
- **bingo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bingo)
- **binge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-binge)
- **bulge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bulge)
- **budge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-budge)
- **biome** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-biome)
- **blige** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-blige)
- **bridge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bridge)
- **billed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-billed)
- **Billie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-billie)
- **billet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-billet)
- **bulger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bilge-vs-bulger)
- **big** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/big-vs-bilge)
- **bike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bike-vs-bilge)

## Common misspellings (6)
`bbilge`, `bigle`, `bileg`, `bilgge`, `billge`, `iblge`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bilge