n. [ OE. rigge the back, AS. hrycg; akin to D. rug, G. rücken, OHG. rucki, hrukki, Icel. hryggr, Sw. rugg, Dan. ryg. √16. ] 1. The back, or top of the back; a crest. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A range of hills or mountains, or the upper part of such a range; any extended elevation between valleys. “The frozen ridges of the Alps.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A raised line or strip, as of ground thrown up by a plow or left between furrows or ditches, or as on the surface of metal, cloth, or bone, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) The intersection of two surface forming a salient angle, especially the angle at the top between the opposite slopes or sides of a roof or a vault. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Fort.) The highest portion of the glacis proceeding from the salient angle of the covered way. Stocqueler. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ridged p. pr. & vb. n. Ridging. ] 1. To form a ridge of; to furnish with a ridge or ridges; to make into a ridge or ridges. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bristles ranged like those that ridge the back
Of chafed wild boars. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form into ridges with the plow, as land. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To wrinkle. “With a forehead ridged.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The part of a harness which passes over the saddle, and supports the shafts of a cart; -- called also ridgerope, and ridger. Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The backbone. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Blood . . . lying cluttered about the ridgebone. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Same as Ridgelling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little ridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. riggilt, riggot, ananimal half castrated, a sheep having only one testicle; cf. Prov. G. rigel, rig, a barrow hog, rigler a cock half castrated. ] (Zool.) A half-castrated male animal. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. See Ridgepole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) The timber forming the ridge of a roof, into which the rafters are secured. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) See Life line (a), under Life. [ 1913 Webster ]