Hedge priest

Hedge \Hedge\, n. [OE. hegge, AS. hecg; akin to haga an
   inclosure, E. haw, AS. hege hedge, E. haybote, D. hegge, OHG.
   hegga, G. hecke. [root]12. See {Haw} a hedge.]
   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.
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         The roughest berry on the rudest hedge.  --Shak.
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         Through the verdant maze
         Of sweetbrier hedges I pursue my walk.   --Thomson.
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   Note: Hedge, when used adjectively or in composition, often
         means rustic, outlandish, illiterate, poor, or mean;
         as, hedge priest; hedgeborn, etc.
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   {Hedge bells}, {Hedge bindweed} (Bot.), a climbing plant
      related to the morning-glory ({Convolvulus sepium}).

   {Hedge bill}, a long-handled billhook.

   {Hedge garlic} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Alliaria}. See
      {Garlic mustard}, under {Garlic}.

   {Hedge hyssop} (Bot.), a bitter herb of the genus {Gratiola},
      the leaves of which are emetic and purgative.

   {Hedge marriage}, a secret or clandestine marriage,
      especially one performed by a hedge priest. [Eng.]

   {Hedge mustard} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Sisymbrium},
      belonging to the Mustard family.

   {Hedge nettle} (Bot.), an herb, or under shrub, of the genus
      {Stachys}, belonging to the Mint family. It has a
      nettlelike appearance, though quite harmless.

   {Hedge note}.
   (a) The note of a hedge bird.
   (b) Low, contemptible writing. [Obs.] --Dryden.

   {Hedge priest}, a poor, illiterate priest. --Shak.

   {Hedge school}, an open-air school in the shelter of a hedge,
      in Ireland; a school for rustics.

   {Hedge sparrow} (Zool.), a European warbler ({Accentor
      modularis}) which frequents hedges. Its color is reddish
      brown, and ash; the wing coverts are tipped with white.
      Called also {chanter}, {hedge warbler}, {dunnock}, and
      {doney}.

   {Hedge writer}, an insignificant writer, or a writer of low,
      scurrilous stuff. [Obs.] --Swift.

   {To breast up a hedge}. See under {Breast}.

   {To hang in the hedge}, to be at a standstill. "While the
      business of money hangs in the hedge." --Pepys.
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