fledge

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   of a young bird, to develop the feathers needed for flight or become able to fly

   Most chicks fledge about five weeks after hatching.

2. 2
   verb

   to raise and care for a young bird until it can fly independently

   The pair may fledge three chicks in a successful season.

3. 3
   verb

   to fit an arrow with feathers or vanes that stabilize its flight

   The bowyer used matching feathers to fledge each arrow.

From Middle English flegge or flygge and an unattested Old English flycge, 'able to fly,' from a Germanic adjective related to fly. English developed verbs for acquiring flight feathers, rearing a bird to that stage, and furnishing an arrow with feathers; fledgling and full-fledged preserve the same family.

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