holystone

plural holystones

1. nauticalA piece of soft sandstone used for scouring the wooden decks of ships, usually with sand and seawater.First known use 1823

   Synonyms: bible

2. A stone with a naturally-formed hole, used by Yorkshiremen for good luck.First known use 1825

present singular third person holystones · participle present holystoning · participle past holystoned · past holystoned

1. transitiveTo use a holystone.First known use 1827

   Six days shalt thou labour and do all thou art able, And on the seventh—holystone the decks and scrape the cable.

   1840, Richard Henry Dana, Two Years before the Mast, page 6

   3 more examples

   The boils called sand boils, which form on the front of the knee, are generally produced by small particles of sand being rubbed beneath the skin when the men are kneeling to holystone the decks. Very troublesome sores are thus produced. Great care should, therefore, be taken never to kneel with the bare knees upon a sanded deck.

   1861, Thomas Spencer Wells, “Boils”, in The Scale of Medicines with which Merchant Vessels Are to Be Furnished..., 2nd edition, London: John Churchill, New Burlington Street, page 92

   Six days shalt thou labor and do all that thou art able, / And on the seventh holystone the deck and scrape the cable.

   1911, Ambrose Bierce, “Sabbath”, in The Devil’s Dictionary, New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.: The Neale Publishing Company, →OCLC

   The decks were washed and holystoned in the morning watch, and at eight bells all hands breakfasted. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the between-decks were turned out, washed, and holystoned.

   1911, Arthur Hamilton Clark, The Clipper Ship Era 1843-1869, Chapter 2