verderer

American  

[vur-der-er] / ˈvɜr dər ər /

Or verderor

noun

1. an English judicial officer in the royal forests having charge especially of the vert, or trees and undergrowth.

---

verderer British  

/ ˈvɜːdərə /

noun

1. English legal history a judicial officer responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the royal forests

---

Other Word Forms

• verderership noun

Etymology

Origin of verderer

1535–45; < Anglo-French verderer, Old French verd ( i ) er < Latin viridārius, equivalent to virid ( is ) green + -ārius -ary ( -er ² ); doubling of -er in Anglo-French perhaps by falsely taking verder as a form of verdure verdure

Example Sentences

As soon as he was out of the intendant's house, Edward hastened to the cottage of Oswald Partridge, whom he found waiting for him, for the verderer had not failed to deliver his message.

From Project Gutenberg

After a few moments’ silence, the verderer said, “You tell me you are going to the Intendant’s house; he is not at home.”

From Project Gutenberg

Nor can you be surprised if a dismissed verderer becomes a poacher.”

From Project Gutenberg

There was something so cool and so determined in Edward's quiet manner, that the verderer hesitated.

From Project Gutenberg

“It is even as you say,” replied an active-looking young man; “I was born and bred in this forest, and my father was a verderer before me.”

From Project Gutenberg