A h sexton
[sek-stuh n] /ˈsɛk stən/
noun
anne (harvey) 1928–74, u.s. poet.
s-xton
/ˈsɛkstən/
noun
a person employed to act as caretaker of a church and its contents and graveyard, and often also as bell-ringer, gravedigger, etc
another name for the burying beetle
word origin
c14: from old french secrestein, from medieval latin sacristānussacristan
s-xton
n.
c.1300, sekesteyn, “person in charge of the sacred objects of a church,” from old french segrestien, from medieval latin sacrist-n-s (see sacristan). sense of “custodian of a church” first recorded 1580s. fem. forms s-xtress, s-xtrice are recorded 15c., but the usual form is s-xtoness (early 15c.).
s-xton
church custodian charged with keeping the church and parish buildings prepared for meetings, caring for church equipment, and performing related minor duties such as ringing the bell and digging graves. the term is sometimes used interchangeably with “sacristan,” denoting a church officer who is specifically in charge of the sacristy and its sacred utensils and vestments but who also may perform the duties of s-xton.
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