Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Surge?

\Surge\, n. [L. surgere, surrectum, to raise, to rise; sub under + regere to direct: cf. OF. surgeon, sourgeon, fountain. See {Regent}, and cf. {Insurrection}, {Sortie}, {Source}.] 1. A spring; a fountain. [Obs.] ``Divers surges and springs of water.'' --Ld. Berners. 2. A large wave or billow; a great, rolling swell of water, produced generally by a high wind. He that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. --James i. 6 (Rev. Ver.) He flies aloft, and, with impetuous roar, Pursues the foaming surges to the shore. --Dryden. 3. The motion of, or produced by, a great wave. 4. The tapered part of a windlass barrel or a capstan, upon which the cable surges, or slips.
\Surge\, v. i. 1. To swell; to rise hifg and roll. The surging waters like a mountain rise. --Spenser. 2. (Naut.) To slip along a windlass.
\Surge\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Surged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Surging}.] [Cf. F. surgir to cast anchor, to land. Cf. {Surge}, n.] (Naut.) To let go or slacken suddenly, as a rope; as, to surge a hawser or messenger; also, to slacken the rope about (a capstan).