surplice

[ sur-plis ]

noun
  1. a loose-fitting, broad-sleeved white vestment, worn over the cassock by clergy and choristers.

  2. a garment in which the two halves of the front cross diagonally.

Origin of surplice

1
1250–1300; Middle English surplis<Anglo-French surpliz, syncopated variant of Old French surpeliz<Medieval Latin superpellīcium (vestīmentum) over-pelt (garment), neuter of superpellīcius (adj.), equivalent to Latin super-super- + pellīt(us) clothed with skins + -ius adj. suffix

Other words from surplice

  • surpliced, adjective
  • un·sur·pliced, adjective

Words that may be confused with surplice

Words Nearby surplice

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How to use surplice in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for surplice

surplice

/ (ˈsɜːplɪs) /


noun
  1. a loose wide-sleeved liturgical vestment of linen, reaching to the knees, worn over the cassock by clergymen, choristers, and acolytes

Origin of surplice

1
C13: via Anglo-French from Old French sourpelis, from Medieval Latin superpellīcium, from super- + pellīcium coat made of skins, from Latin pellis a skin

Derived forms of surplice

  • surpliced, adjective

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