pyx

/pɪks/
noun
  1. A small container used in the Christian church to hold the consecrated bread (the host) for Communion.
    • The priest carried the pyx to the home of a sick parishioner who could not attend Mass.
    • The silver pyx was kept in a special cabinet in the sacristy.
    • During the service, the deacon placed the pyx on the altar.
  2. A container used to hold coins, especially for testing the purity of gold or silver coins at a mint.
    • The old pyx from the Royal Mint is now displayed in a museum.
    • The mint master sealed the sample coins in a pyx for the annual trial.
    • Each year, a pyx of newly minted coins is sent to be tested for weight and purity.
Synonyms
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