verge

Where does the word "verge" come from? It comes from Latin virga, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Verge’s story begins in Latin: virga meant “rod, stick.” A staff of office. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as verge. The area under a steward's rod of authority. It reached English by 1400s as verge. 'on the verge of' dates from the 1600s. Today, verge means an edge or border.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient virga "rod, stick", a staff of office.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval verge "rod, boundary", the area under a steward's rod of authority.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s verge "rod; boundary", 'on the verge of' dates from the 1600s.