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.-to inclose or separate with a hedge; to fence with a thickly set line or thicket of shrubs or small trees; as, to hedge a field or garden.-to obstruct, as a road, with a barrier; to hinder from progress or success; -- sometimes with up and out.-to surround for defense; to guard; to protect; to hem (in).-to surround so as to prevent escape.-to shelter one's self from danger, risk, duty, responsibility, etc., as if by hiding in or behind a hedge; to skulk; to slink; to shirk obligations.-to reduce the risk of a wager by making a bet against the side or chance one has bet on.-to use reservations and qualifications in one's speech so as to avoid committing one's self to anything definite.