Grail, Holy
A cup or bowl that was the subject of many legends in the Middle Ages. It was often said to have been used by Jesus at The Last Supper. The Grail was supposedly transported to Britain, where it became an object of quest for the knights of the Round Table.
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Note
By extension, a “holy grail” is any esteemed object long sought for or attained only after great endeavor.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
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