Home UK English feretory

Meaning of feretory in English:

feretory

Pronunciation /ˈfɛrət(ə)ri/

nounplural noun feretories

  • 1 rare A portable shrine containing the relics of a saint.

    ‘St. Swithun's feretory was probably placed behind the High Altar.’
    • ‘The new feretory was erected in 1813 thanks to Avgustin, Metropolitan of Moscow.’
    1. 1.1A chapel containing a feretory.
      holy place, temple, church, chapel, tabernacle, altar, sanctuary, sanctum

Origin

Middle English from Old French fiertre, via Latin from Greek pheretron ‘bier’, from pherein ‘bear, carry’.