E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
The men of Gods lot or inheritance. In St. Peters first epistle (ch. v. 3) the Church is called Gods heritage or lot. In the Old Testament the tribe of Levi is called the lot or heritage of the Lord. (Greek, o; Latin, clerus and clericus, whence Norman clerex and clerkus; French, clergé.)