# ledge

> English word · Noun · IPA /lɛd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #16,956

## Definitions
1. A narrow surface projecting horizontally from a wall, cliff, or other surface.
2. A shelf on which articles may be laid.
3. A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks.
4. A layer or stratum.
5. A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral.
6. A (door or window) lintel.
7. A cornice.
8. A piece of timber to support the deck, placed athwartship between beams.

## Etymology
From Middle English legge, from Old English leċġ (“bar, crossbeam”), from Proto-West Germanic *laggju (“layer, strip, ledge, rung, bar”), from Proto-Germanic *lagjō (“layer, stratum”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie, recline”). Cognate with West Frisian lêch (“a layer of sheaves on a threshing floor”), Dutch leg (“layer”), German Low German Legg (“wrinkle, fold, flat layer, stratum”), Middle High German legge, lecke (“position, layer, stratum, tier; pleat, hem”). Related to Middle English leggen (“to lay, apply”), from Old English leċġan (“to lay”); and Old English *ġeleċġ (“positioning, arrangement, layout”) as in Old English limġeleċġ (“the disposition of the limbs, form, shape”). More at lay.

## Easily confused with
- **lee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lee)
- **leg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-leg)
- **legs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-legs)
- **Lego** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lego)
- **luge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-luge)
- **lode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lode)
- **lodge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lodge)
- **leigh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-leigh)
- **lemme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lemme)
- **liege** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-liege)
- **lunge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lunge)
- **levee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-levee)
- **Leyte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-leyte)
- **Lexie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lexie)
- **leger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-leger)
- **legged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-legged)
- **ledger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-ledger)
- **lodged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lodged)
- **ledges** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-ledges)
- **Lepage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ledge-vs-lepage)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eldge`, `ldege`, `leddge`, `ledeg`, `ledgge`, `legde`, `lledge`

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