BAPTISTERY

n. (also baptistry) (pl. -ies) 1 a the part of a church used for baptism. b hist. a building next to a church, used for baptism. 2 (in a Baptist chapel) a sunken receptacle used for total immersion. [ME f. OF baptisterie f. eccl.L baptisterium f. eccl.Gk baptisterion bathing-place f. baptizo BAPTIZE]