E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Churchwarden (A).
A long clay pipe, such as churchwardens used to smoke some half a century ago when they met together in the parish tavern, after they had made up their accounts in the vestry, or been elected to office at the Easter meeting.
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“Thirty years have enabled these [briar-root pipes] to destroy short clays, ruin meerschaums, and even do much mischief to the venerable ‘church warden.’”—Notes and Queries, April 25th, 1885, p. 823.
