What caused this confusion is that in countries with plenty of cheap wine, if there was any unconsecrated wine left in a cruet, that wine was washed down the piscina.
The first acolyte pours water from the cruet over his fingers into a little dish, the second then hands him the towel to dry the fingers.
A smaller container called a cruet is used for the priest's chalice, usually identical to the cruet of water, which is mingled with the wine before consecration.
Unlike a small carafe, a cruet has a stopper or lid.
A larger silver basin and cruet are generally used for a bishop, though there is no official requirement for this.
I can remember the tropics when one's servant at the same time as he put down the cruet put down the quinine bottle.
They begin by throwing the cucumber out of the window, and next year they are going to get the cruet-stand and make a salad.
They present the cruets of wine and water for the priest or deacon to pour some into the chalice.
