1616. Jonson, Devil is an Ass, iii., 1. I must have you do A noble gentleman a courtesy here, In a mere toy, some pretty ring or jewel, Of fifty or threescore pound. Make it a hundred, And hedge in the last forty that I owe you, And your own price for the ring.
1671. Buckingham, The Rehearsal, Prol. Now, critics, do your worst, that here are met, For, like a rook, I have hedg’d in my bet.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hedge, to secure a desperate Bet, Wager, or Debt.
1736. Fielding, Pasquin, Act iii. Sneer. That’s laying against yourself, Mr. Trapwit. Trap. I love a hedge, sir.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Hedge (v.) … also to secure or re-insure a dangerous debt, voyage, wager, etc.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxix. They changed their note, and attempted to hedge for their own indemnification, by proposing to lay the odds in favour of Gauntlet.
1754. Connoisseur, No. 15. Whatever turn things take, he can never lose. This he has effected, by what he has taught the world to call, hedging a bet.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xii. If she says ‘Yes,’ sell out.… If she says ‘No’ get second leave.… So it’s hedged both ways.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 201. You’d better hedge some of your sweep money.