Virge

Traditional virge with brass ball and small cross on top.

A virge, from the Latin virga, is a type of rod, made of wood.

Originally it was one or more branches (the French often use verges, the plural of its equivalent, as the normal word for a rod, the rarer singular verge rather indicates a switch) used as an instrument for corporal punishment, or as a riding crop.

It is presently best known as the ceremonial staff of the Anglican and Episcopalian lay church officers known as verger (or originally virger : the title derives from virge), who originally used it as a 'weapon' to make way for the ecclesiastical procession (compare the catholic garde suisse), and occasionally to chastise unruly choristers.

Sources and references

• Website of US Episcopalian Virgers' Guild