ridge
UK: rɪdʒ | US: rɪdʒ
n. 1. A long, narrow elevation of land; a chain of hills or mountains.
n. 2. The line where two sloping surfaces meet (e.g., the ridge of a roof).
n. 3. A raised strip or seam (e.g., a ridge on fabric or a fingerprint).
The word "ridge" traces back to Old English hrycg, meaning "back of a person or animal" or "the crest of a hill." It shares roots with Old Norse hryggr and Dutch rug, all derived from Proto-Germanic hrugjaz. The core idea of a "raised line" persists across meanings—whether anatomical (backbone), geographical (mountain ridge), or structural (roof ridge). The silent "-e" is a common relic of Middle English spelling.
The hikers followed the ridge to reach the summit.
Rainwater trickled down the ridge of the tin roof.
The plowed field had neat ridges for planting seeds.
His fingerprint showed a unique ridge pattern.
The tectonic plates collided, forming a submerged ocean ridge.