bilge

American  

[bilj] / bɪldʒ /

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. either of the rounded areas that form the transition between the bottom and the sides on the exterior of a hull.

   2. Also bilges. (in a hull with a double bottom) an enclosed area between frames at each side of the floors, where seepage collects.

   3. Also called bilge well.  a well into which seepage drains to be pumped away.

   4. Also called bilge water.  seepage accumulated in bilges.

2. Slang. bilge water.

3. the widest circumference or belly of a cask.

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verb (used without object)

bilged, bilging

1. Nautical.

   1. to leak in the bilge.

   2. (of white paint) to turn yellow.

2. to bulge or swell out.

verb (used with object)

bilged, bilging

1. Nautical. to damage (a hull bottom) so as to create an entry for seawater.

bilge British  

/ bɪldʒ /

noun

1. nautical the parts of a vessel's hull where the vertical sides curve inwards to form the bottom

2. (often plural) the parts of a vessel between the lowermost floorboards and the bottom

3. Also called: bilge water.  the dirty water that collects in a vessel's bilge

4. informal silly rubbish; nonsense

5. the widest part of the belly of a barrel or cask

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verb

1. (intr) nautical (of a vessel) to take in water at the bilge

2. (tr) nautical to damage (a vessel) in the bilge, causing it to leak

Other Word Forms

• bilgy adjective

Etymology

Origin of bilge

First recorded in 1505–15; perhaps variant of bulge

Example Sentences

If you have ever sat at a restaurant, marveling at the bilge offered on the kids’ menu and wondering how on earth we got here, “Picky” has the answers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

It is oppressively dull work, but at least it isn’t the bilge.

From New York Times • Dec. 9, 2022

Emily Bell of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism worried that readers might be deluged with "bilge".

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2022

Once you’re back aboard, work the bilge pump until you’ve cleared out most of the water.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2022

Then the squall struck whining from the west, with gale force, breaking both forestays, and the mast came toppling aft along the ship’s length, so the running rigging showered into the bilge.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer