fossor

American  

[fos-er] / ˈfɒs ər /

noun

1. (in the early Christian church) a minor clergyman employed as a gravedigger.

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Etymology

Origin of fossor

1850–55; < Latin: digger ( Late Latin: gravedigger), equivalent to fod ( ere ) to dig + -tor -tor, with dt > ss

Example Sentences

The people were careworn and emaciated, and their faces were characterized by the same pallor which Marcellus had observed in the fossor.

From The Martyr of the Catacombs A Tale of Ancient Rome by Anonymous

The difference in color is greater in comparison with fossor than with rostralis.

From A New Pocket Gopher (Genus Thomomys), from Eastern Colorado by Hall, E. Raymond (Eugene Raymond)

He had carefully noted the distance he had come since leaving the mouth of the passage along which Severus and the fossor, he was now satisfied, had proceeded.

From Jovinian A Story of the Early Days of Papal Rome by Kingston, William Henry Giles

Now and then a system of regularity is introduced, as if the fossor, or digger, who was a recognized officer of the early Church, had had the leisure for preparing graves before they were needed.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 05, March, 1858 by Various

Stopping a moment, he recognised Severus and the fossor.

From Jovinian A Story of the Early Days of Papal Rome by Kingston, William Henry Giles