edge

n. [ OE. eg, egge, AS. ecg; akin to OHG. ekka, G. ecke, Icel. & Sw. egg, Dan. eg, and to L. acies, Gr. 'akh` point, Skr. açri edge. √1. Cf. Egg, v. t., Eager, Ear spike of corn, Acute. ] 1. The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe. Hence, (figuratively), That which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. Rev. ii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

Slander,
Whose edge is sharper than the sword. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon the edge of yonder coppice. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge
Of battle. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pursue even to the very edge of destruction. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire. [ 1913 Webster ]

The full edge of our indignation. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 stone, a curbstone. --
Edge tool. (a) Any tool or instrument having a sharp edge intended for cutting. (b) A tool for forming or dressing an edge; an edging tool. --
To be on edge, (a) to be eager, impatient, or anxious. (b) to be irritable or nervous. --
on edge, (a) See to be on edge. (b) See to set the teeth on edge. --
To set the teeth on edge, (a) to cause a disagreeable tingling sensation in the teeth, as by bringing acids into contact with them. [ archaic ] Bacon. (b) to produce a disagreeable or unpleasant sensation; to annoy or repel; -- often used of sounds; as, the screeching of of the subway train wheels sets my teeth on edge. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Edged p. pr. & vb. n. Edging. ] 1. To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen. [ 1913 Webster ]

To edge her champion's sword. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a garden with box. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hills whose tops were edged with groves. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to goad; to urge or egg on. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Aitchbone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. having a specified kind of border or edge; as, a black-edged card; dried sweat left salt-edged patches. [ Postpositional ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. having a cutting edge or especially an edge or edges as specified; often used in combination; as, a dull-edged blade. Opposit of edgeless. [ Postpositional ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. having a biting effect, implying criticism; -- used of words or language; as, edged satire.
Syn. -- cutting, harsh, sharp, sharp-worded, stinging. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Without an edge; not sharp; blunt; obtuse; as, an edgeless sword or weapon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the direction of the edge. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Three hundred thousand pieces have you stuck
Edgelong into the ground. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Carp.) Having an edge planed, -- said of a board. Knight.