Meanings
plural aspergilla · plural aspergillums · alternative aspergil · alternative aspergill
- ChristianityAn implement, in the form of a brush or of a rod with a perforated container, for sprinkling holy water; a holy-water sprinkle.
The king’s authority held sway not only over the knight’s mighty sword, but also over the episcopal cross and aspergillum: for the bishops plied back and forth between court and province like all the other lords.
1994, Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, “Introduction: Classic Monarchy”, in Juliet Vale, transl., The Royal French State, 1460-1610, page 6Synonyms: holy water sprinkler, rantistirion
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn implement, in the form of a brush or of a rod with a perforated container, for sprinkling holy water; a holy-water sprinkle.
Origin
- Ecclesiastical Latinaspergillum
- Englishaspergillum
From Ecclesiastical Latin aspergillum, from aspergō (“to sprinkle”).
More words from Ecclesiastical Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans wykwas
- wykwasimplement for sprinkling holy water
Catalan salpasser, hisop
- salpasserimplement for sprinkling holy water
- hisopimplement for sprinkling holy water
Czech kropáč, kropěnka
- kropáčimplement for sprinkling holy water
- kropěnkaimplement for sprinkling holy water
Dutch wijwaterkwast
- wijwaterkwastimplement for sprinkling holy water
Finnish vihmin
- vihminimplement for sprinkling holy water
French goupillon, aspersoir
- goupillonimplement for sprinkling holy water
- aspersoirimplement for sprinkling holy water
German Aspergill, Sprengel
- Aspergillimplement for sprinkling holy water
- Sprengelimplement for sprinkling holy water
- Sprengwedelimplement for sprinkling holy water
- Weihwassersprengelimplement for sprinkling holy water
- Weihwasserwedelimplement for sprinkling holy water
- Weihwedelimplement for sprinkling holy water
Greek αγιαστούρα
- αγιαστούρα (agiastoúra)implement for sprinkling holy water
Icelandic kvöstur, stökkull
- kvösturimplement for sprinkling holy water
- stökkullimplement for sprinkling holy water
Indonesian hisop, aspergilum
- hisopimplement for sprinkling holy water
- aspergilumimplement for sprinkling holy water
Irish aisréad
- aisréadimplement for sprinkling holy water
Italian aspersorio
- aspersorioimplement for sprinkling holy water
Latin aspergillum
- aspergillumimplement for sprinkling holy water
Polish kropidło
- kropidłoimplement for sprinkling holy water
Portuguese aspersório, hissope
- aspersórioimplement for sprinkling holy water
- hissopeimplement for sprinkling holy water
Russian кропи́ло
- кропи́ло (kropílo)implement for sprinkling holy water
Spanish aspersorio, hisopo
- aspersorioimplement for sprinkling holy water
- hisopoimplement for sprinkling holy water
- aspergesimplement for sprinkling holy water
Ukrainian кропи́ло
- кропи́ло (kropýlo)implement for sprinkling holy water
Cite this entry
aspergillum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aspergillum
“aspergillum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aspergillum. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aspergillum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aspergillum.
Source: aspergillum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.