But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶[…]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind thehedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.
A barrier (often consisting of a line of persons or objects) to protect someone or something from harm.
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made anhedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
(UK,West Country, chiefly Devon and Cornwall) A mound of earth, stone- or turf-faced, often topped with bushes, used as a fence between any two portions of land.
2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination ofHobson-Jobson”, inInternational Journal of Lexicography, volume31, number 4,→DOI, page487:
When not inaccurate, much commentary on the contents ofHobson-Jobson is couched inhedges or relies on speculative estimates in the absence of exact information.
Ahedge is an investment position intended to offset potential losses/gains that may be incurred by a companion investment. In simple language, ahedge is used to reduce any substantial losses/gains suffered by an individual or an organization.
Attalus[…]made him so dead-drunke that insensibly and without feeling he might prostitute his beauty as the body of a commonhedge-harlot, to Mulettiers, Groomes and many of the abject servants of his house.
The Investopedia Team; Scott, Gordon; Rathburn, Pete (20 November 2003), “Hedge: Definition and How It Works in Investing”, inInvestopedia[1] (encyclopedia), People Inc., archived fromthe original on20 May 2025
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hedge on Wikipedia.Wikipedia