prayer beads

[ prair ]

plural noun

1. a rosary.

prayer beads

/ prɛə /

plural noun

1. RC Church the beads of the rosary

Word History and Origins

Origin of prayer beads¹

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

Asked if the rebels shot any other unarmed prisoners, he nods and vigorously rubs a set of silver prayer beads.

From The Daily Beast

Kneeling before a plaster cast of the Virgin, with a string of bone prayer-beads in her hands, was another aged woman.

From Project Gutenberg

For a long time she sat with closed eyes, her little ivory prayer-beads in her hands.

From Project Gutenberg

Baptiste, prayer-beads in hand, knelt by his son's side, saying prayers for the dying.

From Project Gutenberg

To you I give the prayer beads––it is good to give them to you.

From Project Gutenberg

Already she had been to see Jeanne Soubise, in the curiosity-shop, and had bought a string of amber prayer-beads.

From Project Gutenberg