virga

noun

vir·​ga ˈvər-gə How to pronounce virga (audio)
: wisps of precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground

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Virga is from the Latin word virga, which means primarily "branch" or "rod," but can also refer to a streak in the sky suggesting rain. Our featured word, which dates to the mid-20th century, is only the latest in a series of words from this root. "Verge" (which originally referred to a rod or staff carried as an emblem of authority or a symbol of office) dates to the 15th century. The rare noun "virgate," which refers to an old English unit of land area, came from "virga" by way of the Medieval Latin virgata (also a unit of land area) in the late 17th century. The more common adjective virgate, meaning "shaped like a rod or wand" arrived in the early 19th by way of Latin virgatus, meaning "made of twigs."

Examples of virga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Just observed a regenerative line of unrealized convective cells that were producing virga. Chris Bianchi, The Denver Post, 18 May 2020 So the virga probably consisted of little ice crystals. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 29 Dec. 2018 Dry air below causes the rain to evaporate before reaching the ground in a phenomenon known as virga. USA Today, 22 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'virga.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, branch, rod, streak in the sky suggesting rain

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of virga was in 1938

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Cite this Entry

“Virga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virga. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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