Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: 'long pole', from Latin virga; from within the verge 'within the area controlled by someone who carried a pole as a sign of authority'

verge

1 noun
     
verge1 [countable]
1

be on the verge of something

to be at the point where something is about to happen:
Mountain gorillas are on the verge of extinction.
be on the verge of doing something
The show was on the verge of being canceled due to low ratings.
2 British English the edge of a road, path etc:
The car skidded across the road and came to a stop on the grass verge.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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