1 neck-verse | Definition of neck-verse
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neck-verse

noun

Definition of neck-verse

: a verse usually consisting of the first lines of a Latin version of the 51st psalm formerly set before an accused person claiming benefit of clergy so that the person might vindicate his claim by an intelligent reading aloud of the verse before examiners

History and Etymology for neck-verse

Middle English neke verse; from the possibility of its saving the accused person's neck

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