cilice

[ sil-is ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a garment of haircloth formerly worn by monks; a hair shirt.
haircloth.

cilice

/ ˈsɪlɪs /

noun

a haircloth fabric or garment

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cilice¹

before 950; < Middle French; replacing Old English cilic < Latin cilicium < Greek kilíkion, neuter of kilíkios Cilician, so called because first made of Cilician goathair

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cilice¹

Old English cilic, from Latin cilicium shirt made of Cilician goats' hair, from Greek kilikion, from Kilikia Cilicia

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Example Sentences

And now I must doff this bristly cilice; they would prick thy tender skin, perhaps make it bleed, as they have me, I see.

From Project Gutenberg

The breastplate and the cilice of bristles she took and dashed with feeble ferocity on the floor.

From Project Gutenberg

Cilice, sil′is, n. hair-cloth: a penitential garment made of hair-cloth.

From Project Gutenberg

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ciliate Cilicia

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