holystone

WOTD - 4 June 2009    

English

Etymology

Uncertain, but likely from the fact the scrubbing is done while down on one's knees, just as in prayer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈhəʊl.ɪ.stəʊn/
• (US) IPA: /ˈhoʊl.i.stoʊn/

Noun

holystone (plural holystones)

1. (nautical) A block of soft sandstone used for scrubbing the wooden decks of a ship, usually with sand and seawater; sometimes called a bible.

Usage notes

Smaller blocks for awkward places are prayer books.

Translations

block of soft sandstone used for scrubbing

Czech: pemza (cs) f.

Russian: песчаник (ru) m.

Verb

holystone (third-person singular simple present holystones, present participle holystoning, simple past and past participle holystoned)

1. (transitive) To scrub the decks with a holystone.
   • 1911: Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary (under Sabbath)

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

Translations

to scrub the decks with a holystone

Czech: drhnout (cs) palubu (cs) f.

Finnish: holistoonata (fi)