censer
    n 1: a container for burning incense (especially one that is
         swung on a chain in a religious ritual) [syn: censer,
         thurible]

Censer \Cen"ser\, n. [For incenser, fr. OF. encensier, F.
   encensoir, fr. LL. incensarium, incensorium, fr. L. incensum
   incense. See Incense, and cf. Incensory.]
   A vessel for perfumes; esp. one in which incense is burned.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The ecclesiastical censer is usually cup-shaped, has a
         cover pierced with holes, and is hung by chains. The
         censer bearer swings it to quicken the combustion.
         [1913 Webster]

               Her thoughts are like the fume of frankincense
               Which from a golden censer forth doth rise.
                                                  --Spenser.
         [1913 Webster]

Censer
   the vessel in which incense was presented on "the golden altar"
   before the Lord in the temple (Ex. 30:1-9). The priest filled
   the censer with live coal from the sacred fire on the altar of
   burnt-offering, and having carried it into the sanctuary, there
   threw upon the burning coals the sweet incense (Lev. 16:12, 13),
   which sent up a cloud of smoke, filling the apartment with
   fragrance. The censers in daily use were of brass (Num. 16:39),
   and were designated by a different Hebrew name, _miktereth_ (2
   Chr. 26:19; Ezek. 8:11): while those used on the day of
   Atonement were of gold, and were denoted by a word (mahtah)
   meaning "something to take fire with;" LXX. pureion = a
   fire-pan. Solomon prepared for the temple censers of pure gold
   (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chr. 4:22). The angel in the Apocalypse is
   represented with a golden censer (Rev. 8:3, 5). Paul speaks of
   the golden censer as belonging to the tabernacle (Heb. 9:4). The
   Greek word thumiaterion, here rendered "censer," may more
   appropriately denote, as in the margin of Revised Version, "the
   altar of incense." Paul does not here say that the thumiaterion
   was in the holiest, for it was in the holy place, but that the
   holiest had it, i.e., that it belonged to the holiest (1 Kings
   6:22). It was intimately connected with the high priest's
   service in the holiest.
   
     The manner in which the censer is to be used is described in
   Num. 4:14; Lev. 16:12.