ˈvərˌgyül, ˈvə̄ˌ-, ˈvəiˌ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Latin virgula small rod, small stripe, obelus, diminutive of virga branch, rod, stripe — more at whisk
1.
a. : a short usually slanting stroke or mark used in medieval manuscripts: as
(1) : the earliest form of a comma usually used to indicate a caesura
(2) : an indication of a division of a word at the end of a line
b. : diagonal 4
2. : a form of timepiece escapement that somewhat resembles the verge but has a comma-shaped projection from the balance staff serving as its pallet