ciborium

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ci=bo=ri=um

CIDE DICTIONARY

ciborium, n. [LL., fr. L. ciborium a cup, fr. Gr. a seed vessel of the Egyptian bean; also, a cup made from its largeleaves, or resembling its seed vessel in shape.].

•  A canopy usually standing free and supported on four columns, covering the high altar, or, very rarely, a secondary altar.  [1913 Webster]
•  The coffer or case in which the host is kept; the pyx.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ciborium, n. (pl. ciboria)
1 a vessel with an arched cover used to hold the Eucharist.
2 Archit. a a canopy. b a shrine with a canopy.

Etymology

med.L f. Gk kiborion seed-vessel of the water-lily, a cup made from it