χέρνιψ from χερνίπτομαι χέρνιψ, ιβος, ἡ, water for washing the hands, before meals, or before sacrifices and religious services, Od., Ar. pl. χέρνιβες, purifications with holy water, Eur.; εἴργεσθαι χερνίβων to be excluded from the use thereof, as were those defiled by bloodshed, Dem.; χέρνιβας νέμειν to allow the use of it, Soph.; χερνίβων κοινωνός a partaker therein, i. e. a member of the household, Aesch. rarely of libations to the dead, Aesch., Soph.