/ak'weuh meuh nuy"lee, ah'kweuh meuh nee"lay/ , n. , pl. aquamaniles /-nuy"leez, -nee"lays/ , aquamanilia /-nil"ee euh/ .
1. a medieval ewer, often made in grotesque animal forms.
2. Eccles. a basin used by a celebrant for washing the hands during the saying of the Mass.
Also, aquaemanale, aquamanale .
[ 1870-75; manus hand) of L aquiminale, aquae manale ewer, equiv. to aquae, gen. of aqua water + manale (or manale ), perh. deriv. of manare to flow, pour ]