Sex"ton (?), n. [OE. sextein, contr. fr. sacristan.]
An under officer of a church, whose business is to take care of the church building and the vessels, vestments, etc., belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating clergyman, and to perform other duties pertaining to the church, such as to dig graves, ring the bell, etc.
Sexton beetle Zool., a burying beetle.
© Webster 1913.