The Collaborative International Dictionary
Aspergill \As"per*gill\, ||Aspergillum \As`per*gil"lum\, n. [LL. aspergillum, fr. L. aspergere. See Asperse, v. t.]
The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy water on the people. [Also written aspergillus.]
(Zo["o]l.) See Wateringpot shell.
Wiktionary
n. An implement, in the form of a brush, or of a rod with a perforated container, for sprinkling holy water; a holy water sprinkler.
Wikipedia
An aspergillum (less commonly, aspergilium or aspergil) is a liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water. It comes in two common forms: a brush that is dipped in the water and shaken, and a silver ball on a stick. Some have sponges or internal reservoirs that dispense holy water when shaken, while others must periodically be dipped in an aspersorium (holy water bucket, known to art historians as a situla).
An aspergillum is used in Roman Catholic and Anglican ceremonies, including the Rite of Baptism and during the Easter Season. In addition, a priest will use the aspergillum to bless the candles during candlemas services and the palms during Palm Sunday Mass. At a requiem, if a coffin is present, the priest will sprinkle holy water on the coffin. The aspergillum can be used in other manners where sprinkling of holy water is appropriate, as in a house blessing, in which the priest might bless the entry to the home. The name derives from the Latin verb aspergere 'to sprinkle'.
The form of the aspergillum differs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. In the Greek Orthodox Church the aspergillum (randistirion) is in the form of a standing vessel with a tapering lid. The top of the lid has holes in it from which the agiasmos (holy water) is sprinkled. In the Russian Orthodox Church the aspergillum is in the form of a whisk made of cloth or hair. Sometimes, sprigs of basil are used to sprinkle holy water. In some of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, no aspergillum is used, but the priest will pour holy water into the palm of his right hand and throw it on the faithful.
Usage examples of "aspergillum".
One acolyte held a basin of water, and the priest dipped an aspergillum into the bowl and sprinkled a few drops over me.
I knelt before the offering-fire, and the priest at the altar sprinkled me with his aspergillum, murmuring a blessing.
Replacing the aspergillum, the priest took a pinch of barley meal from golden salver beside the bowl.
Behind him, Tavis was finishing his circuit with the aspergillum and came to asperse Javan as Queron went on to cense Joram.
Tavis came back to the East, between Javan and the little table, and put the bowl and aspergillum back under the table, while Joram went before Queron and knelt, bowing his head over his hands on the quillons of the sword before him.
The thurible and aspergillum he had already seen, as well as the sword Gregory laid back in place.
The aspergillum he handed her was a tuft of evergreen bound to a handle of myrtlewood, stuck in a small silver bucket of holy water.
He would not look at Evaine, though, and kept his eyes averted until she had turned to face the East, the aspergillum held across her heart.
Torgon himself took up a bowl with a leafy aspergillum and began circling the altar widdershins, sprinkling it and the bull with aspersions of water infused with mistletoe berries.
Father Dominic got to his room with the aspergillum, which turned out to be what the dippy thing was called.
The acolytes stumbled against one another in confusion, then one bearing a basin of water came forward to offer the aspergillum to the priestess.
There were candles and missals, collections plates, beads, lunules, censers, thuribles, aspergillums, and ciboria.
He loomed before us on a raised platform, which he occupied like a magistrate on his bench, or perhaps more like a priest at the altar, wielding his mallet like a sanctus bell or aspergillum.