χέρνιψ,ἡ, used by Hom. (only in Od. ,v.infr.) always in acc.χέρνιβα; later in nom., A. Eu. 656 ; gen.
A.
χέρνιβος
S. Fr. 1127.7
, Ar. Lys. 1129 , Lys. 6.52 , D. 20.158 ; dat. χέρνιβι
Ar. Av. 897
(lyr.), Th. 4.97 ; pl., freq. in Trag. (v. infr. 2 ); poet. dat. χερνίβεσσιν
Simon. 44
: (χείρ, νίζω):—water for washing the hands,before meals, Od. 1.136 , 3.440 , 4.52 , etc.: esp. of holy water used before sacrifices, 3.445 , Ar. Av. 850 , Lys. 1129 ; ὕδωρ, ὃ ἦν ἄψαυστον σφίσι, πλὴν πρὸς τὰ ἱερὰ χέρνιβι χρῆσθαι
Th.
l.c., εἴργεσθαι χέρνιβος
D.
l.c.
2. freq. in pl.χέρνιβες, purifications with holy water,
Simon. 45 , E. Or. 1602