Forms: α. 6–8 werste, 6, 8–9 werst, 7 worst, 7–8 wurste. β. 6– verst, 6–8 verste, 7 vorst; 6 verse (pl. versse), 7 ferse. [ad. Russ. верста, partly through G. werst and F. verste.] A Russian measure of length equal to 3500 English feet or about two-thirds of an English mile.
α. 1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 322. From Moscouia to the citie of Vuolochda, are numbered [500] Werstes, one Werst conteynynge almoste the space of an Italyan myle.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 27. We left Novogorod and got forwards 36. Werstes, or seven Leagues.
1715. Lond. Gaz., No. 5293/2. He was not gone above 12 Wurstes or Russian Miles.
1774. Ann. Reg., II. 151. Having approached this island within almost three wersts, or two English miles, their vessel was suddenly surrounded by ice.
1818. Byron, Mazeppa, xvii. Many a werst, Panting as if his heart would burst, The weary brute still stagger’d on.
1841. Motley, Corr. (1889), I. iv. 73. The road from Tauroggen to Petersburg is 14 wersts.
β. 1557. Jenkinson, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1886), III. 198. Vologhda and Mosco … are accompted 500 verstes asunder.
c. 1571. J. Stow, Voy. & Trav. (Hakl. Soc.), II. 339. The ryuer oca, which is 20 versse distant from ye moscow a verse is iii quarters of an yngleshe myle.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (Haki. Soc.), 7. A little isthmus or narrow slippe of lande, a fewe versts ouerthwart.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 295. In Russia among the Moscovites confining upon Poland, a mile is called a ferse.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., 23. From the furthest part westward … to Siberia Eastward, is 4400. verst or thereabouts.
a. 1670. [S. Collins], Pres. St. Russia (1671), 83. Some ran away ten Versts before they could be overtaken.
1760. Phil. Trans., LI. 490. It runs from a great lake, which lies a verste and a half from its mouth.
1775. Wraxall, Tour North. Europe, 218. Muscovite lords commonly go fifty and sixty versts … to make visits to each other.
1808. R. K. Porter, Trav. Sk. Russ. & Swed. (1813), I. iv. 27. Seventy or eighty versts above St. Petersburgh.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., II. ii. 204. A country house of the Tzaar’s seven versts from Moscow.
1879. Browning, Ivàn Ivà., 194. No strength, old crone,—not she!—to crawl forth half a verst!
