from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Paternoster \Pa"ter*nos`ter\, n. [L., Our Father.]
1. The Lord's prayer, so called from the first two words of
the Latin version.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Arch.) A beadlike ornament in moldings.
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3. (Angling) A line with a row of hooks and bead-shaped
sinkers.
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4. (Mining) An elevator of an inclined endless traveling
chain or belt bearing buckets or shelves which ascend on
one side loaded, and empty themselves at the top.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Paternoster pump}, {Paternoster wheel}, a chain pump; a
noria.
{Paternoster while}, the space of time required for repeating
a paternoster. --Udall.
[1913 Webster]