Also 6–7 verdge, vierge, 7 varge. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) verge (= It. verga):—L. virga rod, etc.: cf. VIRGE.]
I. 1. † a. The male organ; the penis. Obs.–1
a. 1400. Stockh. Med. MS., i. 343, in Anglia, XVIII. 303. Ȝif þe verge be brente, As man of woman may so be schente.
b. Zool. [After mod.F. use.] The male organ of a mollusk, crustacean or other invertebrate.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), III. 114. All [sea-snails] … that have this orifice, or verge, as some call it, on the right side.
1852. Dana, Crust., I. 242. The male verges are similar in position.
1867. Hulme, trans. Moquin-Tandon, II. VII. 333. In these animals the sexes may be separated or united. The males are generally provided with a verge or spiculum.
† 2. Arch. ‘The shaft of a column, or a small ornamental shaft in Gothic architecture’ (Parker). Obs.–1
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 653. If I schulde rehersen by and by Þe korve knottes by crafte of masounry, Þe fresche enbowyng, with vergis riȝt as linys [etc.].
† 3. A species of torch or candle. Obs. rare.
1494–5. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 653. Pro factura viii torchez, xij torchettes, cum iij vergez pro capella d’ni Prioris. Ibid. (1500–1), 656. ij torches, iij torchetez, ij verges.
4. a. A rod or wand carried as an emblem of authority or symbol of office; a staff of office; a warder, † scepter, mace. † Sergeant of the verge, = SERGEANT sb. 8 b.
1494. Househ. Ord. (1790), 124. The abbott to take to her her scepter and her verge to her hand.
1514. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 251. The said Cardinall … delivered her the Scepter in her right hande, and the vierge of the hand of Justice in her lyfte hand.
1566. Adlington, Apuleius, 11. I pray you tell me what meaneth these servitours that follow you and these roddes or verges which they beare?
1602. Segar, Hon. Mil. & Civ., IV. viii. § 4. 218. To this degree of Archduke belongeth a Surcoat;… hee also beareth a Verge or rod of gold.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., d iv b. He used to go before the Emperour with a golden Verge or Warder.
1679. Blount, Anc. Tenures, 22. To support his [the King’s] right Arm … whilst he held the Regal Verge or Scepter.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, IV. xii. (Roxb.), 500/1. Then marched the sergeants of the Verge of the Guildhall in Paris.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. vi. (1710), 62. Putting into his Hand a Verge of Gold.
1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. 1842, I. 530. His mind will be heated as much by the sight of a sceptre, a mace, or a verge.
1867. 1st Rep. Commissioners Publ. Worship, 38/1. Have you any cross or other emblem carried in procession in your church?—Only a verge.
1894. C. N. Robinson, Brit. Fleet, 151. The verge formerly borne in state before a newly-appointed member of the Board.
† b. A rod or wand put in a person’s hand when taking the oath of fealty to the lord on being admitted as a tenant, avd delivered back on the giving up of the tenancy. Also in phr. tenant by the verge. Obs.
1607. J. Norden, Surv. Dial., III. 101. Tenants of Base tenure, are they that hold by verge at the will of the Lord.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 61. Tenant[s] by the Verge are in the same nature as tenants by copy of Court roll.
1651. trans. Kitchin’s Courts Leet (1675), 161. Plow-holders of base tenure are those which hold by Verge at the Will of the Lord.
5. † a. A chariot-pole. Obs.–1
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., V. iv. § 13. 25. They will … run vpon the vergies [L. per temonem], and stand stedfastly vpon the beames [L. in jugo], and quickly recouer themselues backe againe into the waggons.
b. A rod, wand or stick. rare.
1897. Church Q. Rev., 5. The Pope’s pastoral staff gradually swallowed up the sceptres of kings, as Aaron’s verge devoured the other rods.
† 6. An accent-mark. Obs.–1
1555. Eden, Decades, III. vii. (Arb.), 166. The names … are pronounced with thaccent, as yowe may know by the verge sette ouer the heddes of the vowels.
7. Watchmaking. The spindle or arbor of the balance in the old vertical escapement.
1704. in J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I.
1797. Phil. Trans., L. 201. In the … clock … the verge, that carries the pallets, was bent downwards.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 521. The socket … is turned pretty small on the outside, in order to allow the arbors of the detents to be laid as close to the verge as may be.
1876. Clin. Soc. Trans., IX. 145. He … contrived to break the verge of one watch and the cylinder of another.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 279. The Verge … has no pretensions to accuracy in presence of such escapements as the Lever and Chronometer.
b. ellipt. A verge watch (see next).
1871. ‘M. Legrand,’ Cambr. Freshm., iii. Mr. Samuel had previously worn an antiquated verge, once the property of the worthy Captain.
1904. Times, 11 July, 2/6. The watch was simply described as a gold verge with seal.
c. attrib. and Comb., as verge escapement, -file, hole, -maker, -pivot, spring, watch.
1792. Trans. Soc. Arts, X. 217. Common verge watches have no oil upon the pallets.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 508. The verge-pivots of a good sized pocket-watch.
1841. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., IV. 29/1. The end of the screw is attached to a strong verge spring.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Verge-maker, a maker of pallets; a branch of the watch-movement trade.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2707/1. Verge-file, a fine file with one safe side, formerly used in working on the verge of the old vertical escapement. Ibid., 2708/1. The vertical or verge escapement is old-fashioned.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 128. In good clocks the pallets and verge holes are jewelled.
8. a. A part of a stocking-frame (see quot.).
1851–4. Tomlinson’s Cycl. Usef. Arts (1867), II. 877/1. In front of the needle-bar is a small piece of iron, called the verge, to regulate the position of the needles.
b. U.S. That part of a linotype machine that carries the pawls by which the matrices are released; an escapement pawl link.
In recent use.
II. † 9. a. A measure of length or superficies for carpentry work. Obs.–0
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 508/2. Verge, yn a wrytys werke, virgata.
† b. Verge of land [tr. OF. verge de terre, med.L. virga terræ], = VIRGATE. Obs. rare.
1467–8. Rolls of Parlt., V. 609/1. A mese, iii verge of Land,… iii Acres of Medowe.
1651. trans. Kitchin’s Courts Leet (1675), 152. Upon two Verges of Land are built houses.
1672. Cowell’s Interpr., Yardland … is a quantity of Land various, according to the place…. It is called a Verge of Land, anno 28 E. 1, Statute of Wards.
III. 10. Within the verge, within an area subject to the jurisdiction of the Lord High Steward, defined as extending to a distance of twelve miles round the King’s court. Also with in, and freq. const. of (the court, etc.). Obs. exc. Hist.
The phrase is a rendering of AF. dedeinz la verge (in Anglo-L. infra virgam), in which verge originally referred to the Steward’s rod of office (see sense 4 a); in early use the full expression verge de noster hostel (L. virga hospitii nostri) is employed. In the 18th century commonly denoting the precincts of Whitehall as a place of sanctuary.
1509–10. Act 1 Hen. VIII., c. 14 § 1. The Lorde Stuarde of the Kynges House … wythin the Verge and Justices of Assize, and Justices of the Peace,… have also power to inqwere … of every Defaulte.
1529. in Fiddes, Wolsey, II. (1726), 177. According to the ancient custom us’d within your verge.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 38. That the Marshall of the Kings House have the place of the King, to heare and determine Pleas of the Crowne within the Verge.
1604. Proclam. Prices Victuals, 10 July. The Clarkes of the market of our Houshold within the Verge of our Court.
1643. in Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 231. That both He, and the Lord Herbert,… may likewise be restrain’d from coming within the Verge of the Court.
1669. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., 244. Murders … committed in the Court or within the Verge, which is every way within 12 miles of the chief Tunnel of the Court.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 101, ¶ 7. Men and Women were allowed to meet at Midnight in Masques within the Verge of the Court.
1764. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 375. M. D’Eon who was to have receiv’d his sentence on fryday last … chose rather to take post in the neighbourhood of Whitehall, in the Verge of the Court.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 448/1. The original court of the marshalsea is a court of record, to hear and determine causes between the servants of the king’s household and others within the verge.
transf. 1606. Bp. Andrewes, Serm. (1841), II. 202. We were not only within the dominion, but within the verge, nay even within the very gates of death.
b. Hence The verge (of the court), employed with other prepositions or in other constructions to designate this area or jurisdiction.
1529. in Fiddes, Wolsey, II. (1726), 177. All manner of victuals within the precinct of the verge.
1614. Nottingham Rec., IV. 319. Ye Clarke of the Markett for the verge.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 261. The Coroner of the Kings house … cannot intermeddle within the County forth of the Verge, because that his office extendeth not thereunto.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand. (1812), I. 431. I got safe into the verge of the court, where I kept snug.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 76. By the statute of 13 Ric. II. st. 1. c. 3 … the verge of the court in this respect extends for twelve miles round the king’s place of residence.
1813. H. & J. Smith, Horace in Lond., 75. Place me beyond the verge afar, Where alleys blind the light debar.
1865. Nichols, Britton, I. p. xxxiv. This officer [of measures] appears to have been styled Clerk, or Keeper, of the Market; and his duties were generally united with those of the Coroner of the Verge.
attrib. 1708. J. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Gt. Brit. (1710) [538 Officers of the Hall…. Marshalsea…. Verge. Ibid.] Index, Verge Officers, [p.] 538.
c. Court of (the) Verge: (see quot. 1730).
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lxviii. 285. All cases … of trespassis vi et armis, where one [party] … was of the houshold, were handled in the court of the Verge, or the Marshals court.
1682. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 159. Sir Phillip Lloyd … haveing been tried at the court of verge for killing one Mr. Holborne.
1730. Bailey (fol.), Court of Verge, is a Court or Tribunal in the Manner of a King’s Bench, which takes Cognisance of all Crimes and Misdemeanours committed within the Verge of the King’s Court.
1904. Mary Bateson, in Scottish Hist. Soc. Misc., II. 11. A well-developed Court of the Verge, presided over by the Constable, is here revealed in the Scotland of 1305.
11. The bounds, limits, or precincts of a particular place. Chiefly after the preps. within, in, out of.
The examples placed under (a) keep closer to the original use (see sense 10) than those under (b).
(a) 1641. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 411. The English and Dutch Merchants within the Verge of the Castle [of Dublin].
a. 1668. Davenant, Poems (1673), 219. Th’ Aldermen by Charter, title lay (’Cause writ ’ith City’s Verge) to my new play.
1693. Southerne, Maid’s last Prayer, IV. i. I wou’d not be known by any good will out of the verge of Whitehall.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxxvi. 294. She should be beheaded within the verge of the Tower.
1778. Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2), s.v. Lidford, The parish [of Lidford] may … compare with any in the kingdom, the whole forest of Dartmore being in the verge of it.
(b) 1650. Fuller, Pisgah, 394. Probably there were some wells within the verge of the Temple.
1703. Dampier, Voy., III. I. 13. The Canary Islands are … within the usual Verge of the True or General Trade-Wind.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xlvii. 165. Whatever Animal comes within the Verge of a Temple, it is secured from Pursuit or Violence.
1772–84. Cook’s 3rd Voy., I. iii. I. 31. This shews that the Cape de Verde Islands are either extensive enough to break the current of the trade-wind, or that they are situated just beyond its verge.
1860. Hawthorne, Marb. Faun, xxxviii. All splendour was included within its [sc. the cathedral’s] verge.
fig. 1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 633. The chamber … Is privileg’d beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heav’n.
† b. In pl. in the same sense. Obs. rare.
1680. H. More, Apocal. Apoc., 46. The Circle of the Throne … is thus conceived to be drawn about it, but so near that the Beasts … will have the same faces appear within the verges of the Throne that appeared without.
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 324. This only of all Jacob’s children was born within the verges of the land of Canaan.
† 12. In phrases (as prec.). a. The range, sphere or scope of something; all that is naturally included or comprehended under a particular concept, category, etc. Obs. (common in 17th c.).
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. (Grosart), V. 219. Voide ground in the towne from the walls to the houses … is not within the verge of my Geometry.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., I. xlvi. He … gave it … a perfect motion, To move it self whither it self would have it, And know what falls within the verge of notion.
1664. Owen, Vind. Animad. Fiat Lux, Wks. 1855, XIV. 294. These things are without the verge of Christian religion,—chimeras, towers and palaces in the air.
1679. C. Nesse, Antichrist, 188. They fall within the verge of that dispensation.
1717. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., III. 35. Made without the Verge of the ancient Laws of that Kingdom.
1734. Treat. Orig. & Progr. Fees, 34. They do not fall within the Verge of my Undertaking in the present.
transf. 1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., I. iii. Nay, brother, you reach out o’ th Verge now.
† b. The pale or limit of a class or community.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., V. vi. We will live inclos’d In holy verge of some religious order.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. 57. As he was included in the vierge of Abrahams posterity.
1699. Shaftesb., Charac., II. I. I. § 1. ’Tis as hard to persuade … the other [sort] that there is any Virtue out of the Verge of their particular Community.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Dwarf (1778), I. 188. Driven out of their own proper class into the very verge of another.
† c. The power, control or jurisdiction of a person or persons. Obs.
1648. Milton, Observ. Art. Peace, Wks. 1851, IV. 573. For the Conscience, we must have patience till it be within our verge.
1653–4. Whitelocke, Jrnl. Swed. Emb. (1772), I. 227. The master of the ceremonies (as in his own verge) imperiously urged Whitelocke to pledge the health.
1676. Marvell, Gen. Councils, Wks. 1875, IV. 143. The dextrous bishops … hooked within their verge, all the business and power that could be catch’d.
1704. Swift, Mech. Operat. Spirit (1711), 291. Engag’d in wise Dispute about certain Walks and Purlieus, whether they are in the Verge of God or the Devil.
IV. 13. The edge, rim, border or margin of some object of limited size or extent. Now rare.
1459. Paston Lett., I. 468. ij. galon pottes of silver wrethyn, the verges gilt. Ibid. ij. flagons of silver, with gilt verges. Ibid. (1482), III. 282. A scochen … with a scripture wretyn in the verges therof rehersyng thise wordes, ‘Here lieth Margret Paston [etc.].
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1337/1. About the verges [of the coins] was written; Francis of France duke of Brabant.
1616. B. Jonson, Masques, Hymenæi, 926. A transparent veile … whose verge, returning up, was fastened [etc.].
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Love Unknown, 25. A boyling caldron, round about whose verge Was in great letters set Affliction.
1673–4. Grew, Anat. Trunks, I. i. § 14. On the inner Verge of the Barque, stands another Sort of Sap-Vessels, in one slender and entire Ring.
1716. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), V. 256. A Gravestone, round the verges of which [etc.].
1747. Gray, Death Fav. Cat, 29. Again she bent, Nor knew the gulf between…. The slipp’ry verge her feet beguil’d, She tumbled headlong in.
1864. Boutell, Her. Hist. & Pop., xix. § 5 (ed. 3), 310. The Verge of the Escutcheon charged with four half Fleurs de lys or.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. i. He stood on the verge of the rug.
† b. With a and pl., etc.: A brim or rim; a circle of metal, etc. Obs.
1561. J. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 64 b. A rainebow lyke an Emeraud compasseth or incloseth it as a verdge.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. i. 59. The inclusiue Verge Of Golden Mettall, that must round my Brow.
1621. Ainsworth, Annot. Pentat. (1639), 102. These Cups … had verges at the bottome, that they might rest upon the table.
1649. Markham, Eng. Housew., II. ii. 116. Then having rold the coffin flat, and raised up a small verdge of an inch, or more high.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 129. There is another [statue] … whose garments and all are marble … and a verge all down before and round ye neck with ye figures of the Apostles done in Embroydery as it were.
† c. Bot. (See quots.) Obs.
1704. Dict. Rust. (1726), Verge,… among Florists,… is taken for the edge or outside of a Leaf; as A dented Verge.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Among Florists, a dented Verge, is a jagged edge or outside of a Leaf.
d. Arch. (See quots.) Cf. VERGE-BOARD.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 83. To give a slight inclination to the verge or border-slates, where they butt against brick-work. Ibid., § 849. The verges are the external edge of the tiling in gables, which are covered with lime and hair, or Roman cement.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 475/2. Verge, the edge of the tiling projecting over the gable of a roof.
14. The extreme edge, margin or bound of a surface of an extensive nature, but regarded as having definite limits. Also occas. without const.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. i. 93. The furthest Verge That euer was suruey’d by English eye.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Wks. 1856, I. 30. The shuddering morne that flakes, With silver tinctur, the east vierge of heaven.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., I. 73. The spacious verge of that well peopled Towne.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 1038. Here Nature first begins Her fardest verge, and Chaos to retire.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 16. To return to Johanna; the innermost part we suppose to be fruitful, by what the Verge of it declares.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 944. Sad … he sits, And views the main that ever toils below, Still fondly forming in the farthest verge.
1735. Somerville, Chase, III. 549. Close to the Verge Of a small Island.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 337. The jackall … pursues even to the verge of the city, and often along the streets.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, ii. The first tender tints of morning now appeared on the verge of the horizon.
1829. Scott, Rob Roy, Introd, ¶ 2. He owed his fame in a great measure to his residing on the very verge of the Highlands.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 342. About a day’s journey south of Leeds, on the verge of a wild moorland tract, lay an ancient manor.
1876. Page, Adv. Text-bk. Geol., iii. 53. On the western verge of Egypt.
b. fig. The end of life.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 71, ¶ 11. The computer … believes that he is marked out to reach the utmost verge of human existence.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel (1876), 503. The utmost verge of this life.
1874. Holland, Mistr. Manse, xxvii. It had the power to stay his feet Yet longer on the verge of life.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 55. The mind was wandering, as it often does On the dim verge of life.
c. The utmost limit to which a thing or matter extends; the distinctive line of separation between one subject and another.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 406. Having lived up to the very verge of his yearly income.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., x. He carried his dislike to youthful amusements beyond the verge that religion and reason demanded.
1820. Hazlitt, Lect. Dram. Lit., 173. Sforza’s resolution … is … out of the verge of nature and probability.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Work & Days, Wks. (Bohn), III. 70. The verge or confines of matter and spirit.
1874. L. Stephen, Hours in Libr. (1892), I. v. 180. The very outside verge of the province permitted to the romancer.
15. a. The extreme edge of a cliff or abrupt descent. Used absol. or with of.
(a) 1605. J. Rosier, in Capt. Smith, Virginia (1624), 19. The rocky clifts … are all overgrown with Firre,… and Oke, as the Verge is with Gousberries [etc.].
1728. Eliza Heywood, trans. Mme. de Gomez’s Belle A. (1732), II. 61. He fell off the Verge he had been so bold to climb, dying the Sea with his Blood.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 519. His steed…, wheeling swiftly round, Or e’er his hoof had press’d the crumbling verge, Baffled his rider, sav’d against his will!
1813. Byron, Corsair, I. xvi. The verge where ends the cliff, begins the beach.
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, II. 234. In the centre of this basin yawned the mouth of the pit. Sanchica ventured to the verge and peeped in.
(b) 1677. Gilpin, Demonol. (1867), 320. Like a man that walks upon the utmost verge of a river’s brink.
1817. Moore, Lalla R., Fire-Worshippers, iv. 128. The mighty Ruins … Upon the mount’s high, rocky verge.
1823. F. Clissold, Ascent Mt. Blanc, 23. This rock is seated upon the verge of a precipitous eminence.
1863. Baring-Gould, Iceland, 257. Thorbjorn shouted and brought Grettir and his brother to the verge of the cliff.
fig. 1742. Young, Nt. Th., I. 62. My hopes and fears … o’er life’s narrow verge Look down—on what? a fathomless abyss.
1760. Gray, Lett. to Wharton, 22 June. You see him [i.e., Sterne] often tottering on the verge of laughter.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. viii. 276. The fortunes of Hyder tottered on the verge of a precipice.
1849. Sir J. Graham, in Parker, Life & Lett. (1907), II. iv. 86. He is now tottering on the verge of the grave.
1861. Sir G. Trevelyan, Horace at Athens, iii. 33.
| We still consume, with mingled shame and grief, | |
| Veal that is tottering on the verge of beef. |
b. The margin of a river or the sea. Also without const.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. Tropheis, 1157. The flowry Verge that longst all Jordan lies.
1614. Gorges, Lucan, I. 26. Where the Tarbellians bound at large A calmed sea, with crooked varge.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, IV. 111. Vpon the verge of the Riuer there are fiue houses.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, V. vii. The leaders urge Their followers to the ocean verge.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 163. There, at length, on the verge of the ocean,… the imperial race turned desperately to bay.
1878. Susan Phillips, On Seaboard, 81. What do they [sc. ships] bring to us? who … Sport by the verge and gather rosy shells.
fig. 1843. Neale, Hymns for Sick, 23. And when I tread the utmost verge Do Thou divide the flood.
c. poet. The horizon.
1822. Byron, Heav. & Earth, I. iii. Their brazen-colour’d edges streak The verge where brighter morns were wont to break.
1847. Tennyson, Princ., VII. 23. She … sees a great black cloud … Blot out the slope of sea from verge to shore.
16. With a and pl. A limit or bound; a limiting or bounding belt or strip. Somewhat rare.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., I. 16. Within the narrow verges of this mortal life.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 877. Serve they as a flourie verge to binde The fluid skirts of that same watrie Cloud?
1790. Trans. Soc. Arts, VIII. 6. A verge, six yards broad, on two sides, is filled with a variety of Forest-trees.
1851. Meredith, Death of Winter, 19. He melts between the border sheen And leaps the flowery verges.
1852. Wiggins, Embanking, 136. Such pasturable verges or grassy fringes as have already been subject to acts of ownership.
b. spec. A narrow grass edging separating a flower border, etc., from a gravel walk.
1723. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Grass-plot, The Quarters, or Verges, are to be prepared with … Earth to lay the Turf on.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., Verge … in Gardening … is generally understood to be a Slip of Grass which joyns to Gravel Walks, and divides them from the Borders in the Parterre Garden.
1858. Glenny, Gard. Every-day Bk., 71/1. The verges of green turf, so apt to encroach upon the gravel-walks and inwardly upon the beds.
attrib. and Comb. 1822. Loudon, Encycl. Gard., § 617. Verge-Shears … are a smaller variety, in which the blades are joined to the handles by kneed shanks, to lessen stooping in the operator. They are chiefly used for trimming the sides of box-edgings [ed. 1824 adds and grass-verges].
1882. Garden, 28 Jan., 65/1. Verge cutting and levelling of turf.
17. The brink or border of something towards which there is progress or tendency (from without); the point at which something begins. Usually in the phrases on or to the verge of.
Various types of context are illustrated by the different groups of quotations.
(a) 1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., Induct. I will … ding his spirit to the verge of hell.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XV. 14. His senses wandering to the verge of death.
1749. Smollett, Regic., IV. ii. But let us seize him on the verge of bliss.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, V. 787. Sheer into his bone He pierced him, but … Jove Him rescued even on the verge of fate.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xiii. Her maternal fondness for her grandson … carried almost to the verge of dotage.
1842. J. Peddie, Exp. Jonah, v. 88. He seems to have been driven to the very verge of despair.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. (1861), V. 5. Spencer … was more than once brought to the verge of ruin by his violent temper.
1884. L’pool Mercury, 22 Oct., 5/4. He was jealous and volatile to the verge of insanity.
(b) 1754. Johnson, Lett. to Chesterfield, 7 Feb. I have been pushing on my work … and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication.
1772. Shrubsole & Denne, Hist. Rochester, 35. The nation seemed on the verge of a civil war.
1848. W. H. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., I. 599. A generous city … driven to the verge of revolt.
1851. Robertson, Serm., Ser. II. xi. (1864), 145. Such men tread … on the very verge of a confession.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxiv. I had driven Catherine Weir to the verge of suicide.
(c) 1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 121. I was now upon the verge of the proper season for action.
1876. Mozley, Univ. Serm., v. (ed. 2), 107. Just before death … his expressions and signs upon the verge of that moment awaken our curiosity.
(d) 1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857), I. 173. [This] brings us to the verge of modern astronomy.
1862. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., II. iv. 138. We are here on the verge of an inquiry which has perplexed the greatest philosophers.
ellipt. 1859. Meredith, R. Feverel, xxxviii. She touched on delicate verges to the baronet, and he understood her well enough.
b. With vbl. sbs. On the verge of, on the very point of (doing something).
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 123. He … reached the town to find … the commons and the gentlemen on the verge of fighting.
1858. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 42. We were on the very verge of granting an … annuity.
1887. [? Miss Ingham], Poor Nellie (1888), 91. Twice she was on the verge of telling all.
18. The space within a boundary; room, scope. Also const. to or for.
Chiefly in echoes of quot. 1757.
1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, I. i. Let fortune empty her whole quiver on me, I have a Soul, that like an ample Shield Can take in all; and verge enough for more.
1757. Gray, Bard, 51. Give ample room, and verge enough The characters of hell to trace.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, II. i. 8. The bard … had ample room and verge enough … for every variety of field sport.
1860. Hawthorne, Marb. Faun, xxiv. In this vast house … a great-grandsire and all his descendants might find ample verge.
1877. ‘H. A. Page,’ De Quincey, I. xiii. 283. When numbers of freebooters found ample verge for their predatory propensities.
b. fig. and in fig. context.
1836. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 338. In no other country was there so little verge, far less encouragement, allowed to theological speculation.
1863. D. G. Mitchell, My Farm of Edgewood, 283. Here is verge, surely, for a man’s cultivation.
1879. M. Pattison, Milton, 178. Not giving verge enough for the sweep of his soaring conception.
