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Dredge

1. Any instrument used to gather or take by dragging; as: a dragnet for taking up oysters, etc, from their beds. A dredging machine. An iron frame, with a fine net attached, used in collecting animals living at the bottom of the sea.

2. (Science: chemical) Very fine mineral matter held in suspension in water.

Origin: f. Drege, dreige, fish net, from a word akin to E. Draw; cf. D. Dreg, dregge, small anchor, dregnet dragnet. See Draw.