Word Study
virgate
CIDE DICTIONARY
virgate, a. [L. virgatus made of twigs, fr. virga a twig, rod. See Verge a rod.].
Having the form of a straight rod; wand-shaped; straight and slender. [1913 Webster]
virgate, n. [LL. virgata, virgata terrae, so much land as virga terrae, a land measure, contains, fr. L. virga a twig, rod.].
A yardland, or measure of land varying from fifteen to forty acres. T. Warton. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
virgate, adj. Bot. & Zool. slim, straight, and erect.
virgate, n. Brit. hist. a varying measure of land, esp. 30 acres.
Etymology
med.L virgata (rendering OE gierd- land yard-land) f. L virga rod
ROGET THESAURUS
virgate
Straightness
N straightness, rectilinearity, directness, inflexibility, straight line, right line, direct line, short cut, straight, rectilinear, rectilineal, direct, even, right, true, in a line, unbent, virgate, undeviating, unturned, undistorted, unswerving, straight as an arrow, inflexible, laser-straight, ramrod-straight.For further exploring for "virgate" in Webster Dictionary Online