a consecrated oil used in Christian ceremonies such as baptisms and (in Catholicism) Confirmations
holy oil in American English
noun
1.
consecrated oil; chrism
2. (esp in the Eastern Church)
oil that has been in contact with a sacred object, as a relic, and is used in certain rites
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME]This word is first recorded in the period 1350–1400. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: absolute, index, kick, range, train
Examples of 'holy oil' in a sentence
holy oil
Father Cuthbert had gone to her father's deathbed and anointed his eyes, brow, mouth, hands and feet with holy oil.
Grace, C.L A SHRINE OF MURDERS
The priest is the bearded apostle figure in a yellow toga who is rubbing holy oil into the dying man's eyelids with his thumb.