Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Wedge \Wedge\, n. [OE. wegge, AS. wecg; akin to D. wig, wigge,
   OHG. wecki, G. weck a (wedge-shaped) loaf, Icel. veggr, Dan.
   v[ae]gge, Sw. vigg, and probably to Lith. vagis a peg. Cf.
   {Wigg}.]
   1. A piece of metal, or other hard material, thick at one
      end, and tapering to a thin edge at the other, used in
      splitting wood, rocks, etc., in raising heavy bodies, and
      the like. It is one of the six elementary machines called
      the mechanical powers. See Illust. of {Mechanical powers},
      under {Mechanical}.

   2. (Geom.) A solid of five sides, having a rectangular base,
      two rectangular or trapezoidal sides meeting in an edge,
      and two triangular ends.

   3. A mass of metal, especially when of a wedgelike form.
      ``Wedges of gold.'' --Shak.

   4. Anything in the form of a wedge, as a body of troops drawn
      up in such a form.

            In warlike muster they appear, In rhombs, and
            wedges, and half-moons, and wings.    --Milton.

   5. The person whose name stands lowest on the list of the
      classical tripos; -- so called after a person (Wedgewood)
      who occupied this position on the first list of 1828.
      [Cant, Cambridge Univ., Eng.] --C. A. Bristed.

   {Fox wedge}. (Mach. & Carpentry) See under {Fox}.

   {Spherical wedge} (Geom.), the portion of a sphere included
      between two planes which intersect in a diameter.



   {Fox wedge} (Mach. & Carpentry), a wedge for expanding the
      split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece,
      to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent
      withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and
      the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges
      is called foxtail wedging.

   {Fox wolf} (Zo["o]l.), one of several South American wild
      dogs, belonging to the genus {Canis}. They have long,
      bushy tails like a fox.