verger

[ vur-jer ]

/ ˈvɜr dʒər /

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noun

Chiefly British. a church official who serves as sacristan, caretaker, usher, and general attendant.

British. an official who carries the verge or other symbol of office before a bishop, dean, or other dignitary.

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of verger

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at verge¹, -er¹

Words nearby verger

Vereshchagin, verge, vergeboard, vergence, verge on, verger, Vergil, Vergilian, verglas, Verhaeren, veridical

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use verger in a sentence

Rob Verger on one of the ugliest periods of South American history.
Siete Things to Know About Pope Francis & Argentina’s Dirty War|Rob Verger|March 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Robert Verger talks to disappointed Muggles about missing the finale.
The ‘Harry Potter’ Meltdown|Rob Verger|July 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Rob Verger asks foreign policy experts if no-fly zones work.
Libya: Do No-Fly Zones Work?|Rob Verger|March 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Rob Verger is a former writing instructor at Columbia University, and his work has also appeared in The Boston Globe.
What Will Be the Next Middle East Shock?|Rob Verger|February 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Our verger and odd man about the church at Y—— (we took him over from our predecessor) could not read.
Thirty Years in Australia|Ada Cambridge
Not to the verger himself had her manner been more cool and detached, but Dane showed no sign of dissatisfaction.
Lady Cassandra|Mrs George de Horne Vaizey
Presently the verger came out of the vestry-room, followed by two gentlemen.
In the Days of My Youth|Amelia Ann Blandford Edwards
Something in the scornful accent and the deep voice aroused the suspicions of the verger, though the words were spoken in English.
In the Days of My Youth|Amelia Ann Blandford Edwards
The Owl took her, instead, to Westminster Abbey, and offered explanations after the manner of a verger.
'That Very Mab'|May Kendall and Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for verger

verger

/ (ˈvɜːdʒə) /

noun mainly Church of England

a church official who acts as caretaker and attendant, looking after the interior of a church and often the vestments and church furnishings

an official who carries the verge or rod of office before a bishop, dean, or other dignitary in ceremonies and processions

Word Origin for verger

C15: from Old French, from verge, from Latin virga rod, twig

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012