In French, verge has several meanings:

a) being on the brink (and all synonyms thereof)
b) a unit of agricultural measure / In Québec - a yardstick or the measure itself (3 feet).
c) a graduated ruler
d) a foldable ruler (pied-de-roi) or ruler made of material for a seamstress (galon)
d) a stick/baton/cerimonial baton/wand

A verger is a fruit orchard.

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I like the word orée. I think it is a rather pretty word. It is usually used when on the edge of something beautiful. If the forest was threatening or ugly, the author would probably used "au pied" - at the foot of, or "au bord" - on the edge of.