verger

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English verge Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzijos Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English verger From verge (“rod”) + -er.

1. One who carries a verge, or emblem of office.
2. A lay person who takes care of the interior of a church and acts as an attendant during services, where he or she carries the verge (or virge). In the United States, the office is generally combined with that of sexton.

   “"We have often seen each other," said Little Dorrit, recognising the sexton, or the beadle, or the verger, or whatever he was, "when I have been at church here."”

   “As soon as we were all in the night the verger rolled shut the doors and blotted out the chandeliers.”

3. An usher; also, in major ecclesiastical landmarks, a tour guide.
4. An attendant upon a dignitary, such as a bishop or dean, a justice, etc.

   “When she came to her place she opened the book, and perused it, and saw the pictures, but frowned and blushed; and then shut it, (of which several took notice,) and calling the verger, bade him bring her the old book, wherein she was formerly wont to read.”