pallium

[ pal-ee-uhm ]

noun

, plural pal·li·a [pal, -ee-, uh], pal·li·ums.

1. a large, rectangular mantle worn by men in ancient Greece and Rome.
2. Ecclesiastical.
   1. a woolen vestment worn by the pope and conferred by him on archbishops, consisting, in its present form, of a narrow ringlike band that rests on the shoulders, with two dependent bands or lappets, one in front and one behind.
   2. an altar cloth; a pall.
3. Anatomy. the entire cortex of the cerebrum.
4. Zoology. a mantle, as of a mollusk or bird.

pallium

/ ˈpælɪəm /

noun

1. a garment worn by men in ancient Greece or Rome, made by draping a large rectangular cloth about the body
2. RC Church a woollen vestment consisting of a band encircling the shoulders with two lappets hanging from it front and back: worn by the pope, all archbishops, and (as a mark of special honour) some bishops
3. Also calledmantle anatomy the cerebral cortex and contiguous white matter
4. zoology another name for mantle

Word History and Origins

Origin of pallium¹

before 1150; Old English < Latin (not attested in ME); pall ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pallium¹

C16: from Latin: cloak; related to Latin palla mantle

Example Sentences

Nor indeed does one much want Papist Bishops, wherever they get their pallium; of them as well keep to windward!

From Project Gutenberg

The King now supposed that Anselm would receive the pallium at his royal hands, which the prelate warily refused to accept.

From Project Gutenberg

This favor, being bought by potent arguments, was granted unwisely, and the pallium was sent to William with the greatest secrecy.

From Project Gutenberg

When a male dons the pallium in worship, he becomes the representative of the trinity in the unity, the arba, or mystic four.

From Project Gutenberg

Figure 170 is a copy of an ancient pallium, worn by papal ecclesiastics three or four centuries ago.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• veil