Verge
/vɜːrdʒ/noun
The edge, border, or brink of something; also a ceremonial rod or staff.
Did you know?In medieval English, a verge could be the rod of office carried by a royal official, showing how a simple “edge” word became a symbol of authority and sacred order.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*werǵ-
“to bend, turn”
Latin
Latin
virga
“a rod, staff, switch”
Old French
OF
verge
“rod, wand; boundary, edge”
Middle English
English
verge
“a rod of authority; border, edge”
Modern English
English
verge
“the edge or brink of something”