English Dictionary

neck verse

名詞

広義

The verse formerly read to entitle a party to the benefit of clergy, said to be the first verse of the fifty-first Psalm, "Miserere mei," etc.

日本語の意味

教会法上の救済（benefit of clergy）を受ける資格を得るために、かつて朗読された聖書の一節。伝統的には詩篇51編『Miserere mei』の最初の節とされる。

At his trial, he whispered the neck verse in a last-ditch attempt to claim the benefit of clergy.

裁判で彼は最後の手段として、聖職者の恩恵を受けるためにかつて朗読された節をささやき、その保護を求めた。

意味（1）

The verse formerly read to entitle a party to the benefit of clergy, said to be the first verse of the fifty-first Psalm, "Miserere mei," etc.

Letter or line know I never a one, Were't my neck-verse at Hairibee

意味（2）

(by extension) A verse or saying, the utterance of which decides one's fate; a shibboleth.

These words, bread and cheese, were their neck verse or shibboleth to distinguish them; all pronouncing broad and cause, being presently put to death.

neck verses （ plural ）