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ostiary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ostiārius, from ostium (door, entrance). See usher, which may be a doublet.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɒsti.əɹi/, /ˈɒst͡ʃəɹi/

Noun

ostiary (plural ostiaries)

  1. (archaic) The mouth of a river; an estuary.
    • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: [], 2nd edition, London: [] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, [], →OCLC:
      the river of Nilus hath seven ostiaries, that is, by seven channels disburdened itself into the sea
  2. One who keeps the door, especially the door of a church; a porter.
    Synonym: ostiarius

References

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