Aspergillum

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 1: A to Beaufort, p. 500

Aspergillum: Aspergillus is the name of a genus of minute fungi or Moulds (q.v.) occurring on decaying substances of various kinds. Aspergillus and Aspergillum are both late Latin words (from aspergere, 'to sprinkle') for the brush used in the Roman Catholic Church for sprinkling holy water on the people.

Source scan(s): p. 0521