SEXTON

sexton, sacristan

(noun) an officer of the church who is in charge of sacred objects

Sexton, Anne Sexton

(noun) United States poet (1928-1974)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

sexton (plural sextons)

A church official who looks after a church building and its graveyard and may act as a gravedigger and bell-ringer.

A sexton beetle.

Synonyms

• sacristan

Proper noun

Sexton

An occupational surname.

Source: Wiktionary

Sex"ton, n. Etym: [OE. sextein, contr. fr. sacristan.]

Definition: 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. Sexton beetle (Zoöl.), a burying beetle.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition