In 7 wage. [Of obscure origin; the modern form is prob. less correct than the earlier wage, but cf. WEDGE sb. 4.] trans. To cut (wet clay) into masses and work them by kneading and throwing down, in order to expel air-bubbles. Hence Wedging vbl. sb.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 123. [Potter’s clay] is brought to the wageing board, where it is slit into flat thin pieces…: This being done, they wage it, i. e. knead or mould it like bread.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 461. Wedging the clay is a similar process [to that of slapping]…. The presser cuts off, with a thin brass wire, a piece of clay from the mass, which he slaps forcibly between the palms of his hands, and then with great violence throws it on the board.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1011. The first of which is called the potter’s sloping [ed. 5, 1860 slapping] or wedging.
1860. W. White, Wrekin, xxvii. 297. The [pug-]mill, however, continued to work, and in time convinced the men of their stupidity; and now, if a man were ordered to ‘wedge’ his own clay, his answer would be ‘Aw’ll stroike first.’ Ibid. The clay … is … thrown into the ‘pug-mill, or ‘wedging-mill,’ a large upright cylinder, in which it is forced or screwed gradually downwards, and extruded at the bottom in a continuous cubical mass.
