The Collaborative International Dictionary
Virgate \Vir"gate\, a. [L. virgatus made of twigs, fr. virga a twig, rod. See Verge a rod.] (Bot.) Having the form of a straight rod; wand-shaped; straight and slender.
Virgate \Vir"gate\, n. [LL. virgata, virgata terrae, so much
land as virga terrae, a land measure, contains, fr. L. virga
a twig, rod.]
A yardland, or measure of land varying from fifteen to forty
acres. [Obs.]
--T. Warton.
Wiktionary
Etymology 1 n. (context historical English) The yardland: an obsolete English land measure usually comprising ¼ of a hide and notionally equal to 30 acres. Etymology 2
a. 1 rod-shaped: straight, long, and thin, (lb en particularly botany) the habitus of plants with straight, erect branches. 2 (context mycology English) finely striped, often with dark fibers.
Wikipedia
The virgate, yardland, or yard of land ( []) was an English unit of land. Primarily a measure of tax assessment rather than area, the virgate was usually (but not always) reckoned as ¼ hide and notionally (but seldom exactly) equal to 30 acres. It was equivalent to two of the Danelaw's oxgangs. __NOTOC__
Virgate (from the Latin , "rod-like") is an adjective in botanical and mycological jargon.
Usage examples of "virgate".
Evergreens spread resinous boughs or stood virgate, as if upholding the sky, or else modestly wept.