holy-water sprinkles

Noun

holy-water sprinkle (plural holy-water sprinkles)

1. Synonym of aspergillum (“an implement, in the form of a brush or of a rod with a perforated container, for sprinkling holy water”).
   • All ſubſtantiues endyng in on, hauyng i cõmyng next before on, be of tbe femyne gendre: Excepte Millyón a myllion⸝ eſcorpión a ſcorpyon a ſarpent⸝ ueſpilión a holy water ſpricle^([sic])⸝ eſtovrgión a ſturgion fiſhe⸝ psalterión a psaltrion […][1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “To Know the Gendre of All Substantyues Endyng in N”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […]...

   Synonyms:

   holy water sprinkler, aspergillum

2. (broadly, historical) A 16th-century weapon consisting of a heavy ball set with spikes attached rigidly to a staff, used mainly in England; a morning star.
   • The weapons, called by Germans "Morgen-stern," and in old English Inventories "holy-water sprinkles," from a certain resemblance to the aspergillum used in churches, are comparatively rare in the armories of this country. […] In the Tower survey of 1547 they are often mentioned; e.g.—'Great holly...1547 (date written), “Proceedings at Meetings of the Royal Archeological Institute. November 1, 1867. [Antiquities and Works of Art Exhibited.]”, in The Archaeological Journal, volume XXV, London...

   Synonyms:

   holy water sprinkler, morgenstern