Hedge v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hedged p. pr. & vb. n. Hedging.]
 1. To inclose or separate with a hedge; to fence with a thickly set line or thicket of shrubs or small trees; as, to hedge a field or garden.
 2. To obstruct, as a road, with a barrier; to hinder from progress or success; -- sometimes with up and out.
    I will hedge up thy way with thorns.   --Hos. ii. 6.
    Lollius Urbius . . . drew another wall . . . to hedge out incursions from the north.   --Milton.
 3. To surround for defense; to guard; to protect; to hem (in). “England, hedged in with the main.”
 4. To surround so as to prevent escape.
    That is a law to hedge in the cuckoo.   --Locke.
 To hedge a bet, to bet upon both sides; that is, after having bet on one side, to bet also on the other, thus guarding against loss.  See hedge5.


 hedged
      adj : evasively worded in order to avoid an unqualified statement
            [syn: weasel-worded]