hedge

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hedge/heʤ/

▶noun

• 1 a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs.

• 2 a contract entered into or asset held as a protection against possible financial loss.

• 3 a word or phrase used to allow for additional possibilities or to avoid over-precise commitment, for example etc. or usually.

▶verb

• 1 surround or bound with a hedge.

• 2 limit or qualify by conditions or exceptions.

  ■ avoid making a definite statement or commitment.

• 3 protect (an investment or investor) against loss by making compensating contracts or transactions.

– phrases
hedge one's bets avoid committing oneself when faced with a difficult choice.

– derivatives
hedger noun,
hedging noun.

– origin OE hegg, of Gmc origin.