aspergillum

American  

[as-per-jil-uhm] / ˌæs pərˈdʒɪl əm /

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

plural

aspergilla, aspergillums

1. a brush or instrument for sprinkling holy water; aspersorium.

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aspergillum British  

/ ˌæspəˈdʒɪləm, ˈæspədʒɪl /

noun

1. another term for aspersorium

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Etymology

Origin of aspergillum

1640–50; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin asperg ( ere ) to besprinkle ( a- ⁵, sparge ) + -illum diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Aspergillus fumigatus is a grayish-green mold that gets its weird name from the shape of its spore-producing structures, which resemble an aspergillum, a Christian liturgical tool used to sprinkle holy water.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2023

After Communion, the parishioners, many carrying bunches of willow branches wrapped in twine, congregated before the altar as Lebed picked up the aspergillum, a brush he used to sprinkle holy water.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2022

At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, cylindrical clusters of the glass sponge Euplectella aspergillum jut upward like skyscrapers in the deep sea.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2021

The priest had forgotten his aspergillum, the holy water sprinkler, and used a backup bottle to bless the assembled.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2019

He is carrying a holy-water vat, made of brass or wood, containing the blest water, and in his hand is an aspergillum or sprinkler.

From The Parish Clerk by Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson)