Also 7 vierger. [prob. a. AF. *verger, f. verge VERGE sb.1 Cf. OF. vergiere (vergeur) gauger, vergier maker of rings, obs. F. verger verger (Cotgr.); also med.L. virgārius, and VIRGER.]
1. An official who carries a rod or similar symbol of office before the dignitaries of a cathedral, church or university († or before justices).
1472–3. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 48/1. Howe that Henr’ late Duke of Lancastr’ … founded … a Churche … of a Deane,… vi Choresters, and a Verger perpetuell.
1530. Palsgr., 284/2. Verger that bereth a rodde in the churche, sergent de lesglise.
c. 1549. in Swayne, Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896), 75. To Thomas Johnson ye verger at owr ladye churche.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Vergers … be such as cary white wands before the Iustices of either banke, &c…; otherwise called Porters of the verge.
1616. B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, IV. iv. I must walk With the French sticke, like an old Vierger, for you.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 197/1. The Verger [of the Cathedral Church] is a Man in a Gown whose Office it is to conduct the Reader to his place [etc.].
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. Notes 117. The Emperor,… taking a wand in his hand, officiated as verger,… preceding the pontiff to the altar.
1846. Hook, Ch. Dict. (ed. 5), 900. Verger,… he who carries the mace before the dean in a cathedral or collegiate church. Ibid. (1854), (ed. 7), 782. Verger. An officer with a similar title precedes the vice-chancellor in the English universities.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, II. xlix. 59. For nearly a week … he had been unable to face the minor canons and vergers.
attrib. c. 1530. in Gutch, Coll. Cur., II. 340. Item oone Verger Rodde of silvar parcel gilte.
1546. Inv. Ch. Goods (Surtees), 137. Two verger rodys of sylver.
transf. 1615. Chapman, Odyss., XII. 555. This by Calypso, I was told, and she Inform’d it, from the verger Mercurie.
b. One whose duty it is to take care of the interior of a church, and to act as attendant.
1797. Farquhar, Beaux’ Strat., II. ii. Then I, Sir, tips me the Verger with half a Crown.
1784. Gentl. Mag., May, 349/1. I felt a secret satisfaction on visiting … the tombs in Westminster Abbey, that the verger no longer amuses the gaping vulgar [etc.].
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 258. The parish clerk bowed low before him [sc. the squire] and the vergers humbled themselves unto the dust in his presence.
1861. Sat. Rev., 30 Nov., 568. How splendid an opportunity for architectural study is afforded by the Abbey, if only the vergers would allow any one to enjoy it.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. 182. The beadles and vergers curtsied to the quality and remained behind for doles.
† 2. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1469. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 48. Mynstrelles, xiii, whereof one is verger that directeth them all in festivall dayes to theyre stations, to bloweings, pipynges [etc.].
Hence Vergerless a., unaccompanied by a verger; Vergership, the office of a verger.
1485. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 383/2. The Office of our Sergeauntship at Armes, and … the Office of Vergership of Wyndesore.
1841. Wm. Cockburn, in Yorkshire Herald, 13 March, 3/2. He [the Archbishop] asked me, in the same letter, to give the first vergership, which might be vacant to his valet. Ibid. It is not improbable that Mr. Dixon may resign the Canonry, and the other servant the Vergership.
1871. Daily News, 12 Aug. The Vergership in St. Paul’s Cathedral, vacant by the death of Mr. Cummings.
1886. Hissey, On Box Seat, 167. The cathedral, over which we were considerately allowed to ramble vergerless, much to our enjoyment.
