vergescu
/ˈvɝ.d͡ʒɛs.k(j)u/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The white shield that was the mark of novice knights, especially in Arthurian legend.
Example Sentences
- "xxijᵗʰ daye of Maie, there shall be a grene tree sett up in the lawnde of Grenwich parke; whereuppon shall hange, by a grene lace, a Vergescu Blanke, in which white shield it shalbe^([sic]) lawfull for any gentleman that will annswear this chalenge ensewing to subscribe his name."
- ""Do you mean Galahad? Was he bearing the vergescu?” “Yes, Galahad. It wasn't a vergescu. He had got hold of a shield somewhere which was said to have belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. It was argent a tau cross gules."
- "They should have been facing down bellowed challenges from black knights bearing the vergescu, or solving thorny theological dilemmas posed by holy hermits. Or at the very least resisting the diabolical temptations of ravishing succubi."
Etymology
From Middle English [Term?], from Old French vierge escu (literally “virgin shield”). It was white because it lacked a background or devices, which celebrated accomplishments, of which the knight had none.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: vierge escu
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈvɝ.d͡ʒɛs.k(j)u/
- British English: /ˈvɜː.d͡ʒɛs.k(j)u/
Inflected Forms
vergescue (alternative)