cassock

[ kas-uhk ]

noun

1. a long, close-fitting garment worn by members of the clergy or others participating in church services.
2. a lightweight, double-breasted ecclesiastical coat or jacket, worn under the Geneva gown.
3. a member of the clergy.

cassock

/ ˈkæsək /

noun

1. Christianity an ankle-length garment, usually black, worn by priests and choristers

Derived Forms

• ˈcassocked, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cassock¹

1540–50; < Middle French casaque, perhaps < a Turkic word akin to the source of Cossack ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of cassock¹

C16: from Old French casaque, from Italian casacca a long coat, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Most priests traded in their cassocks for plain black shirts with Roman collars.

From Seattle Times

The bloodstained word is painted on scarlet satin, the material of a cardinal’s cassock.

From Los Angeles Times

I suggested that she try to imagine something happening to the devil, perhaps his foot tripping over his cassock or something else.

From Scientific American

Six feet one and heavyset, with a slight stoop and closely cropped white hair, Moretta favors black button-down shirts or white guayaberas when not in his priestly cassock.

From Los Angeles Times

At Thursday’s basilica Mass, dozens of rows of priests in simple white cassocks sat in front of rank-and-file Catholics in the packed church.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bishop
• chaplain
• cleric
• evangelist
• missionary
• pastor
• pontiff
• preacher
• priest
• rabbi