1. sacred container for holy water: in some Christian churches, a sacred container or basin that holds holy water, used to carry it away after ablutions have been completed
2. place where priest washes sacred containers: the place where a priest can wash his hands and the sacred containers used in Mass, located in the sacristy, especially in a Roman Catholic church
[Late 16th century. < medieval Latin (in classical Latin "fish pond"), < Latin piscis "fish"]
