mandilion

[ man-dil-yuhn ]

noun

1. a short cloak, with full hanging sleeves, often open or slit under the arms, worn by soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries.
2. a similar garment without sleeves, worn by servants in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandilion¹

1570–80; < Middle French < Italian mandiglione, augmentative of mandiglia < Middle French mandil ( le ) ≪ Medieval Greek mandḗlion < Latin mantēl ( i ) um hand towel, napkin

Example Sentences

This Getulian I say, fortuned to encounter a lion, and when he was violently assailed by him, made no more adoe but threw his mandilion or cassocke full upon his eies.

From Project Gutenberg