fledge
Pronunciation: (flej), [key]
— v., adj. fledged, fledg•ing,
—v.t.
- to bring up (a young bird) until it is able to fly.
- to furnish with or as if with feathers or plumage.
- to provide (an arrow) with feathers.
—v.i.
- (of a young bird) to acquire the feathers necessary for flight.
—adj.
- (of young birds) able to fly.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.