virgate

[ vur-git, -geyt ]

/ ˈvɜr gɪt, -geɪt /

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adjective

shaped like a rod or wand; long, slender, and straight.

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Origin of virgate

1815–25; <Latin virgātus;see virga, -ate¹

Words nearby virgate

vires, virescence, virescent, Virg., virga, virgate, Virgil, Virgilian, virgin, virginal, virgin birth

Other definitions for virgate (2 of 2)

virgate²

[ vur-git, -geyt ]

/ ˈvɜr gɪt, -geɪt /

noun

an early English measure of land of varying extent, usually considered equivalent to a quarter of a hide, or about 30 acres (12 hectares).

Also called yardland.

Origin of virgate

1645–55; <Medieval Latin virgāta (terrae) measure (of land), feminine of Latin virgātus pertaining to a rod; see virgate¹; translation Old English gierd landes yard-measure of land

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

How to use virgate in a sentence

In other cases the holding is in the same way described as a 'half-virgate,' without any details being needful as to its contents.
The English Village Community|Frederic Seebohm
The virgate and the hide were probably, like the acre, actual holdings before they were adopted as abstract land measures.
The English Village Community|Frederic Seebohm
And as four virgates went usually to each hide, so each virgate should contribute 116 of a scutum.
The English Village Community|Frederic Seebohm
Further facts relating to the hide and the virgate are elicited by extending the inquiry into the west of England.
The English Village Community|Frederic Seebohm

Here then at Boldon were 22 villani, each holding two bovates or 30 acres, equivalent to a virgate or yard-land.
The English Village Community|Frederic Seebohm

British Dictionary definitions for virgate (1 of 2)

virgate¹

/ (ˈvɜːɡɪt, -ɡeɪt) /

adjective

long, straight, and thin; rod-shapedvirgate stems

Word Origin for virgate

C19: from Latin virgātus made of twigs, from virga a rod

British Dictionary definitions for virgate (2 of 2)

virgate²

/ (ˈvɜːɡɪt, -ɡeɪt) /

noun

British an obsolete measure of land area, usually taken as equivalent to 30 acres

Word Origin for virgate

C17: from Medieval Latin virgāta (terrae) a rod's measurement (of land), from Latin virga rod; the phrase is a translation of Old English gierd landes a yard of land

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