virgula meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

virgula

noun

UK /ˈvəːɡjʊlə/ · US /ˈvəɹɡjʊlə/

Etymology From Latin virgula (“twig; wand; scratch comma”), from virga (“branch; rod”) + -ulus (“-ule: forming diminutives”). As a dowsing rod, via virgula divina or divinatoria. Doublet of virgule.

7 senses

1The spines of a ray.
2The sicula of a graptolite.
3A divining or dowsing rod.
4Any small rod.
5Synonym of virgule: a punctuation mark.
6Synonym of stem: the tail of a note.
7Synonym of virga: one of the neumes of medieval musical notation.

› A small, thin, straight growth

Biology, Natural sciences, Zoology Obsolete The spines of a ray.

Biology, Natural sciences, Zoology Obsolete The sicula of a graptolite.

Obsolete A divining or dowsing rod.

Rare Any small rod.

Media, Publishing, Typography Rare Synonym of virgule: a punctuation mark.

A Point with a Virgula, call'd a Semicolon.1728, Ephraim Chambers, “Point”, in Cyclopædia:
The full stop or, instead, a virgula, i.e. a short slanting strike (/) is used... to mark the end of a sentence or of a portion of a sentence followed by a pause.1934, Robert C. Priebsch et al., chapter X, in The German Language, volume II, page 380:

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Obsolete Synonym of stem: the tail of a note.

Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music Historical, Obsolete Synonym of virga: one of the neumes of medieval musical notation.

Synonyms: stick
Related terms: virgula plana, virgula suspensiva, virgule