Vestry
/ˈvɛs.tri/noun
A room in a church where clergy vestments and sacred objects are kept, or a committee responsible for church administration.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin vestis, “clothing,” the same root behind vestments worn in Christian ritual.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wes-
“To clothe or put on garments”
Classical Latin
Latin
vestis
“Clothing, garment, or robe”
Late Latin
Latin
vestiarium
“A wardrobe or place where clothing was kept”
12th–13th Century
Old French
vestiaire
“A wardrobe, dressing room, or place for garments”
14th Century
English
vestry
“A room in a church where vestments were stored”
Modern English
English
vestry
“A church room or the administrative body governing a parish”
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