noun
- A container in a Christian church in which the consecrated bread (Eucharist) is kept.
- A small container or box, especially one used to hold coins or samples.
- A container at the British Royal Mint in which sample coins are kept for testing.
Usage: religious; also called a ciborium
Usage: archaic or formal
Usage: historical; British
Examples
- The priest opened the pyx to distribute communion to the congregation.
- The church's ornate pyx was made of gold and decorated with religious symbols.
- In medieval times, a pyx might hold precious relics or sacred objects.
- The Royal Mint maintained a pyx to verify the quality of newly minted coins.
- The small pyx contained samples of the year's currency production.