altar cloth

noun

1. a cloth covering for an altar.

altar cloth

noun

1. Christianity the cloth used for covering an altar: often applied also to the frontal

Word History and Origins

Origin of altar cloth¹

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200

Example Sentences

An altar cloth with embroidered pictures of Mary and Jesus was strewn with pieces of paint from the ceiling.

From Reuters

As he walks through Holy Trinity, he attends to the smallest details, the positioning of flowers, the folding of the altar cloth.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, she worked an altar cloth she’d promised Father David, and I added red flowers to the doily I’d made for Mami.

From Literature

Ugwu did not pay close attention to who was there, though, because, as he stared at the shabby white altar cloth, he imagined that he was getting married.

From Literature

John moved forward, hearing his feet crack against the sagging wood, to where the golden cross on the red field of the altar cloth glowed like smothered fire, and switched on one weak fight.

From Literature