English

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.

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Usage notes

Smaller blocks for awkward places are prayer books.

Translations

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