clerical collar

noun

1. a stiff, narrow, bandlike white collar fastened at the back of the neck, worn by certain clerics.

clerical collar

noun

1. a stiff white collar with no opening at the front that buttons at the back of the neck; the distinctive mark of the clergy in certain Churches Informal namedog collar

Word History and Origins

Origin of clerical collar¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The pastor, a 73-year-old Michigan native and non-denominational evangelical, does not wear a clerical collar and calls himself a Christian activist.

From Washington Times

At the time of the 2014 incident, Quick was wearing a clerical collar, but unbeknownst to the Bustos aide, Quick was also a former employee of the Tea Party candidate running against Bustos.

From Salon

Asked if he continued to wear a clerical collar, he again said he had not been given “any instructions about that.”

From Washington Times

In police body-camera footage obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Lee can be seen wearing a clerical collar and sitting in a red sedan parked near Ms. Freeman’s suburban home on Dec. 15, 2020.

From New York Times

He took some flak online for wearing his clerical collar during one episode, something he said he did at the encouragement of the show’s producers and didn’t feel was all that important either way.

From Washington Post