Obs. exc. dial. Also 4–7 lege, legge, 5 leadge. [Aphetic form of alegge, aledge ALLEGE v.2 (Perhaps sometimes confused with ME. legge, dial. form of lay: see LAY v.)] = ALLEGE v.2 Also Ledging vbl. sb.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28646. He … leghges [Cotton Galba MS. aledges] for him no for-þi þat he na scrift mai vnderly. Ibid., 28679. If þis man … for-sakes penance neuer þe lese, and legges febulnes of flexse.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. vii. (Skeat), l. 73. [They] shoulden seen the same sentence, thei legen on other, spring out of their sides, with so many branches, it wer impossible to nomber.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 41. Thou leggist oft Goddis lawe, bot to a false entente.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), II. 187. Wher is the barron wher is the knighte for me to leadge the lawe?
a. 1500. Chaucer’s Dreme, 816. He said it was nothing fitting To void pity his own legging.
c. 1530. Crt. of Love, 1065. So he hath begon To reson fast, and legge auctorite.
1556. Lauder, Tractate, 428. For all thare ledgin of the lawis.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 28. Nay ’tis no matter sir, what he leges in Latine.
1867. Gregor, Banffs. Gloss., Ledge, (1) to throw out suspicions; as, ‘A’ bodie’s beginnin’ t’ ledge it he’s nae far fae the brackan.’ (2) With the preposition upon, to accuse; as, ‘They ledge upon ’im it he cheatit the minister wee the sellan o’s coo.’
