1. anointing oil: consecrated oil, or a consecrated mixture of balsam and oil, used for anointing people at some ceremonies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches
2. anointing with holy oil: a ceremonial anointing of somebody with holy oil, especially at confirmation in the Eastern Orthodox churches
[Pre-12th century. Via medieval Latin crisma< Greek khrisma "an anointing" < khriein "anoint"]
