Definition of bilge

The word "bilge" in nautical terminology refers to the lowest part of a ship's hull that is filled with water that has accumulated from rain or rough seas. However, etymologically, the word "bilge" has an interesting origin. The word "bilge" is an Anglo-Saxon term that has been in use since the 18th century. Its stem, "bigg(e)," is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word "biggr," which meant "deserving of filth or scorn." In the Anglo-Saxon language, the term "bigge" was used to describe a variety of unclean, lowly or wretched things such as "bilgewater" (writing full of errors), "bilge breeches" (soiled linen pants) or "bilge brothers" (low-born men). When sailors began using the term "bilge" to define the lowest and dirtiest part of a ship's interior in the 18th century, they almost certainly did so as a reminder of the disdainful associations of the word's Old English roots. Today, the word "bilge" continues to have a negative connotation, representing the filthy and worthless scraps leftover from a ship's processing. Its origin, however, underscores the deeply ingrained effect that historical language and meaning can have on modern vocabulary.