hoplochrism

H4O1P3L1O1C3H4R1I1S1M3
UK/ˈhɒpləʊkɹɪzm/

noun

The superstitious practice of applying a salve, ointment, or chrism to a weapon that has caused an injury — rather than to the injury itself — in the belief that doing so will heal the wound that the weapon caused; weapon salve.

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:hoplochrism.”

OriginAncient Greek ὅπλον →
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Meanings

nounhoplochrism (uncountable)

alternative hoplochrisme

  1. historicalrareuncountableThe superstitious practice of applying a salve, ointment, or chrism to a weapon that has caused an injury — rather than to the injury itself — in the belief that doing so will heal the wound that the weapon caused; weapon salve.

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:hoplochrism.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὅπλον“weapon”
  2. Englishhoplochrism

Formed as hoplo- (“weapon”) + chrism (“consecrated oil mingled with balm”, “unguent”); equivalent to the Ancient Greek ὅπλον (hóplon, “weapon”) + χρῖσμα (khrîsma, “salve”).

More words from Ancient Greek

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Cite this entry
APA

hoplochrism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hoplochrism

MLA

“hoplochrism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hoplochrism. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hoplochrism,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hoplochrism.

Source: hoplochrism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.