Sacristy
/ˈsæk.rɪ.sti/noun
A room in a church where sacred vessels, vestments, and other items used in worship are kept.
Did you know?In medieval Latin, the sacristy was tied to the sacrista, the church officer who guarded holy objects—so the word grew out of the practical rituals of protecting sacred power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sak-
“to sanctify, make sacred”
Latin
Latin
sacer
“sacred, holy, set apart”
Late Latin
Latin
sacristia
“a sacristy; the room or place belonging to the sacristan”
Old French
Old French
sacristie
“a sacristy, church vestry”
Middle English
English
sacrestie
“a room for sacred vessels and vestments”
Modern English
English
sacristy
“a room in a church where sacred items are kept”
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