Holystone Definition
hōlē-stōn
holystoned, holystones, holystoning
noun
A large, flat piece of sandstone used for scouring a ship's wooden decks.
Webster's New World
verb
To scrub or scour with a piece of soft sandstone.
American Heritage
To scour with a holystone.
Webster's New World
Origin of Holystone
Uncertain, but likely from the fact that scrubbing is done while down on one's knees, just as in prayer.
From Wiktionary
Perhaps from a sailor's kneeling position while scouring with the stone
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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