\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} (Zo["o]l.), a burying beetle.