(idiomatic) Something which cannot be tampered with, or criticized, for fear of public outcry. A person, institution, belief system, etc. which, for no reason other than the demands of established social etiquette or popular opinion, should be accorded respect or reverence, and not touched, handled or examined too closely.

a tree kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus, that inhabits Australian forests.

In Australian Aboriginal culture, restricted to initiated men, or to women; not public knowledge.

Threskiornis aethiopicus, a species of wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae, which breeds in sub-Saharan Africa, southeastern Iraq and formerly in Egypt, where it was venerated and often mummified as a symbol of the god Thoth.

A baboon (Papio hamadryas) which was worshiped in ancient Egypt, now found in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

(history) Any of three wars fought (in 595-585 BCE, 449 BC-448 BCE and 357-346 BCE) by the Amphictyonic Council.

A species of fir, Abies religiosa, native to the mountains of central and southern Mexico and western Guatemala.

A spirit way.

plural of sacred way

plural of sacred fig