sexton
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (2)
- United States poet (1928-1974)Synonyms: SextonAnne Sexton
- an officer of the church who is in charge of sacred objectsSynonyms: sacristan
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Sexton \Sex"ton\, n. [OE. sextein, contr. fr. sacristan.] An under officer of a church, whose business is to take care of the church building and the vessels, vestments, etc., belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating clergyman, and to perform other duties pertaining to the church, such as to dig graves, ring the bell, etc. [1913 Webster]
Sexton beetle (Zool.), a burying beetle. [1913 Webster]