virgate

¹ American  

[vur-git, -geyt] / ˈvɜr gɪt, -geɪt /

adjective

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

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virgate ² American  

[vur-git, -geyt] / ˈvɜr gɪt, -geɪt /

noun

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

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virgate ¹ British  

/ -ɡeɪt, ˈvɜːɡɪt /

adjective

1. long, straight, and thin; rod-shaped

   virgate stems

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virgate ² British  

/ -ɡeɪt, ˈvɜːɡɪt /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of virgate¹

1815–25; < Latin virgātus; see virga, -ate ¹

Origin of virgate²

1645–55; < Medieval Latin virgāta ( terrae ) measure (of land), feminine of Latin virgātus pertaining to a rod; see virgate ¹; translation Old English gierd landes yard-measure of land

Example Sentences

John Newman may be said to hold a virgate, to join with his plough-oxen in the tillage of twenty acres, to attend at three boon-days in harvest time, and so forth.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

In practice the subdivision was certainly checked, as in the virgate system, by the necessity of keeping together the cattle necessary for the tillage.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

Et in quolibet hameletto manerii sunt 8 virgate terre.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

The250 plots of these four owners are evidently brought together into a virgate for the purpose of assessing the services.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul

This follows from the fact that a certain virgate mentioned in the record is equivalent only to one fourth of the yoke.

From Villainage in England Essays in English Mediaeval History by Vinogradoff, Paul