2. (Ch. of Eng.) A parochial assembly; an assembly of persons who
manage parochial affairs; — so called because usually held in a vestry.
3. (Prot. Epis. Ch.) A body, composed of wardens and vestrymen, chosen
annually by a parish to manage its temporal concerns.
Metropolitan vestry, in the city of London, and certain specified
parishes and places in England, a body composed of householders who pay
poor rates. Its duties include the repair of churches, care of
highways, the appointment of certain officers, etc. — Select vestry, a
select number of persons chosen in large and populous English parishes
to represent and manage the concerns of the parish for one year. Mozley
& W. — Vestry board (Ch. of Eng.), a vestry. See def. 2, above. —
Vestry clerk, an officer chosen by the vestry, who keeps a record of
its proceedings; also, in England, one who keeps the parish accounts
and books. — Vestry meeting, the meeting of a vestry or vestry board;
also, a meeting of a parish held in a vestry or other place.
Ves"try*man (?), n.; pl. Vestrymen (&?;). A member of a vestry;
especially (Prot. Epis. Ch.), a member other than a warden. See Vestry.
Ves"ture (?; 135), n. [OF. vesture, vesteure, F. vêture, LL. vestitura,
from L. vestire to clothe, dress. See Vest, v. t., and cf. Vestiture.]
1. A garment or garments; a robe; clothing; dress; apparel; vestment;
covering; envelope. Piers Plowman.
Approach, and kiss her sacred vesture's hem.
Milton.
Rocks, precipices, and gulfs, appareled with a vesture of plants.
Bentley.
There polished chests embroidered vestures graced.
Pope.
2. (O. Eng. Law) (a) The corn, grass, underwood, stubble, etc., with
which land was covered; as, the vesture of an acre. (b) Seizin;
possession.
Ves"tured (?), a. Covered with vesture or garments; clothed; enveloped.
We be vestured with poor cloth.
Ld. Berners.
Ve*su"vi*an (?), a. [Cf. F. Vésuvien, It. Vesuviano.] Of or pertaining
to Vesuvius, a volcano near Naples.
Ve*su"vi*an, n. [G. vesuvian. See Vesuvian, a.] (Min.) Vesuvianite.
Ve*su"vi*an*ite (?), n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in tetragonal
crystals, and also massive, of a brown to green color, rarely sulphur
yellow and blue. It is a silicate of alumina and lime with some iron
magnesia, and is common at Vesuvius. Also called idocrase.
Ve*su"vine (?), n. A trade name for a brown dyestuff obtained from
certain basic azo compounds of benzene; — called also Bismarck brown,
Manchester brown, etc.
Vetch (?), n. [Also fitch; OE. ficche, feche, for veche, OF. veche,
vecce, vesche, vesce, F. vesce, fr. L. vicia.] (Bot.) Any leguminous
plant of the genus Vicia, some species of which are valuable for
fodder. The common species is V. sativa.
The name is also applied to many other leguminous plants of different
genera; as the chichling vetch, of the genus Lathyrus; the horse vetch,
of the genus Hippocrepis; the kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria); the
milk vetch, of the genus Astragalus; the licorice vetch, or wild
licorice (Abrus precatorius).
Vetch"ling (?), n. [Vetch + - ling.] (Bot.) Any small leguminous plant
of the genus Lathyrus, especially L. Nissolia.
Vetch"y (?), a. 1. Consisting of vetches or of pea straw. "A vetchy
bed." Spenser.