The amount of absorbent cotton the dentist picks up with a pair of curved forceps to mop out gunk from a root canal.
In OR the 2x2 gauze square the surgeon uses for minor blunt dissection,etc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definition: \Pledg"et\, n. [Prov. E., a small plug.]
1. A small plug. [Prov. End.]

2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking.

3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a
wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain
dressings, or absorb the matter discharged.