holystone

The story

Uncertain, but equivalent to holy + stone. As an amulet, probably from holey (“having a hole”). As a scouring stone, variously derived from holey, from the amulet, from its association with Sunday cleaning, from its users' adoption of a kneeling position similar to prayer, and (least likely) from their original provision by raiding graveyards for tombstones.

First known use, by meaning

• 1823 A piece of soft sandstone used for scouring the wooden decks of ships, usually with sand and seawater.
• 1825 A stone with a naturally-formed hole, used by Yorkshiremen for good luck.
• 1827 To use a holystone.