Verger

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)dÊ’É™(ɹ)

Origin

French verger, from verge ("rod").

Full definition of verger

Noun

1. One who carries a verge, or emblem of office.
2. (chiefly British) A lay person who takes care of the interior of a church and acts as an attendant during services, where he or she carries the verge (or virge). An usher; in major ecclesiastical landmarks, a tour guide. In the United States, the office is generally combined with that of sexton.
• Dickens Little Dorrit|1|14‘We have often seen each other,’ said Little Dorrit, recognising the sexton, or the beadle, or the verger, or whatever he was, ‘when I have been at church here.’
3. (UK) An attendant upon a dignitary, such as a bishop or dean, a justice, etc.----