1. (n.) A thicket of bushes, usually thorn bushes; especially, such a thicket planted as a fence between any two portions of land; and also any sort of shrubbery, as evergreens, planted in a line or as a fence; particularly, such a thicket planted round a field to fence it, or in rows to separate the parts of a garden.

2. (v. t.) To enclose 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.

3. (v. t.) To obstruct, as a road, with a barrier; to hinder from progress or success; -- sometimes with up and out.

4. (v. t.) To surround for defense; to guard; to protect; to hem (in).

5. (v. t.) To surround so as to prevent escape.

6. (v. i.) To shelter one's self from danger, risk, duty, responsibility, etc., as if by hiding in or behind a hedge; to skulk; to slink; to shirk obligations.

7. (v. i.) To reduce the risk of a wager by making a bet against the side or chance one has bet on.

8. (v. i.) To use reservations and qualifications in one's speech so as to avoid committing one's self to anything definite.

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