Standard Lemma guide

bilge

noun · verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /bɪld͡ʒ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The lowest inner part of a ship's hull, where water accumulates.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The water accumulated in the bilge; bilge water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Stupid talk or writing; nonsense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, uncountable

Examples

  • talk bilge
  • complete bilge

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The bulging part of a barrel or cask.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To spring a leak in the bilge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To bulge or swell.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To break open the bilge(s) of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bottom, underside, undersurface

Narrower terms: bilges

10

noun

Meaning 10

water accumulated in the bilge of a ship

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bilge water

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: water, H2O

11

verb

Meaning 11

take in water at the bilge

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the tanker bilged

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: take in water

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leak

12

verb

Meaning 12

cause to leak

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the collision bilged the vessel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: damage

History

Etymology

Likely derived from bulge. Compare Middle English bulgen (“to ground or scuttle a ship”).

Across languages

Translations

59 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: outor — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Dutch: pastoor — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Finnish: palle — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Galician: varenga — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Hebrew: שִׁפּוּלַיִם (shipulayim) — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Māori: papakairā — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Polish: obło — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Spanish: sentina — rounded portion of a ship's hull
  • Arabic: جَمَّة (jamma) — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Arabic: إِنْكِلِيَّة (ʔinkiliyya) — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Catalan: sentina — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Czech: dno lodi — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Dutch: kielruimte — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Dutch: lensruimte — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Dutch: buik — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Estonian: pilss — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Finnish: pilssi — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • French: fond de cale — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • French: sentine — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • German: Bilge — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Greek: σεντίνα (sentína) — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Hebrew: שִׁפּוּלַיִם (shipulayim) — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Ido: bilgo — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Italian: sentina — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Latvian: bilžas — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Māori: riu — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Māori: pāwai — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Māori: paewai — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Polish: zęza — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Polish: zenza — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Russian: дни́ще (dníšče) — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Sicilian: sintina — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Swedish: kölrum — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Swedish: hålskepp — lowest inner part of a ship's hull
  • Catalan: aigua de sentina — bilge water
  • Danish: bundvand — bilge water
  • Estonian: pilsivesi — bilge water
  • Finnish: pilssivesi — bilge water
  • French: eau de cale — bilge water
  • German: Bilgewasser — bilge water
  • Greek: σεντινόνερο (sentinónero) — bilge water
  • Hebrew: מִי שִׁפּוּלַיִם (mey shipulayim) — bilge water
  • Italian: sentina — bilge water
  • Latin: sentina — bilge water
  • Latvian: bilžu ūdens — bilge water
  • Serbo-Croatian: kaljuža — bilge water
  • Sicilian: sintina — bilge water
  • Swedish: kölvatten — bilge water
  • Catalan: estirabot — nonsense
  • Czech: kecy — nonsense
  • Czech: žvásty — nonsense
  • Italian: fesserie — nonsense
  • Italian: idiozie — nonsense
  • Italian: sciocchezze — nonsense
  • Sicilian: fissarìi — nonsense
  • Sicilian: babbarijati — nonsense
  • Sicilian: minchiati — nonsense
  • Finnish: pullistua — to bulge
  • Finnish: paisua — to bulge