Why this word is great
AQUAMANILE — [Noun] A ewer or jug-like vessel, often shaped like an animal or human figure, used for washing the hands. From Late Latin aquamanile, combining Latin aqua ("water") and manus ("hand"). Unlike "ewer" (a general term for a water pitcher, lacking the specific zoomorphic or anthropomorphic design of an aquamanile) or "lavabo" (which refers to the ritual washing of hands or the basin used in religious ceremonies, rather than the decorative vessel itself), an aquamanile is both functional and fantastical—a medieval imagination made manifest in metal. It is a lion roaring water from its jaws, a knight tilting forward to pour from his visor, or a griffin arching its back to form a handle—each one a small, domestic miracle, a reminder that even the most mundane acts of cleanliness can be touched by artistry.