dalmatic

[ dal-mat-ik ]

noun

1. Ecclesiastical. a vestment worn over the alb by the deacon, such as at the celebration of the Mass, and worn by bishops on some occasions, such as at a coronation.
2. a vestment similar to a deacon's, worn by a sovereign of England at their coronation.

dalmatic

/ dælˈmætɪk /

noun

1. a wide-sleeved tunic-like vestment open at the sides, worn by deacons and bishops
2. a similar robe worn by a king at his coronation

Word History and Origins

Origin of dalmatic¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French dalmatike, from Late Latin Dalmatica (vestus) (“Dalmatian garment)”; Dalmatia, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of dalmatic¹

C15: from Late Latin dalmatica ( vestis ) Dalmatian (robe) (originally made of Dalmatian wool)

Example Sentences

On top of that, for the crowning moment itself—the presentation as she sat on the “seat” made for King Edward I in 1300, to receive golden orb, scepters, and armbands signifying wisdom and sincerity—were placed a dalmatic of gold cloth, then yet another massive robe of purple velvet and ermine.

From Newsweek

Louis le Jeune, on the crowning of his son Philip Augustus, ordered that the young prince should be clad in a blue dalmatic and blue shoes, sewn with golden fleurs-de-lys, a flower whose name, as “Fleur de Loys,” played upon that of his own, and possibly upon his epithet name of Florus.

From Project Gutenberg

Dalmatic and tunicle are now, however, practically identical in shape and size; though, strictly, the latter should be somewhat smaller and with narrower arms.

From Project Gutenberg

England, France, Spain and Germany, dalmatic and tunicle are now no longer tunics, but scapular-like cloaks, with an opening for the head to pass through and square lappets falling from the shoulder over the upper part of the arm; in Italy, on the other hand, though open up the side, they still have regular sleeves and are essentially tunics.

From Project Gutenberg

However this may be, the dalmatic remained for centuries the vestment distinctive of the pope and his deacons, and—according at least to the view held at Rome—could be worn by other clergy only by special concession of the pope.

From Project Gutenberg