GAGE, is also used for a challenge, to combat: See CARTEL. In which sense, it was a pledge, which the accuser or challenger cast on the ground, and the other took up as accepting the challenge: it was usually a glove, gauntlet, chaperoon, or the like. See COMBAT, and DUEL.
GAGE is only now retained as a substantive. As a verb, the G is changed into W, and of gage is formed wage; as, to wage law; to wage deliverance, q. d. to give security a thing shall be delivered. See WAGE.
If a person who has distrained be sued for not having delivered what he had taken by distress, he should wage, or gage, or gager, deliverance; that is, put in surety that he will deliver them.