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

Benedict had an image of a pallium integrated into his papal emblem.

From Seattle Times

Since he was no longer pope when he died, Benedict did not lie in state with his papal regalia, such as the pallium.

From New York Times

Also placed inside will be three palliums - bands of wool cloth worn around the neck by popes, archdiocesan bishops and other bishops with territorial jurisdiction, to signify their roles as shepherds of their flocks.

From Reuters

Benedict has been laying in state without any papal regalia, such as a crosier, a silver staff with a crucifix, or a pallium, a band of cloth worn around the neck worn by archdiocesan bishops.

From Reuters

The Vatican’s news site noted that Benedict was lying in state without a pallium, a vestment that would not be used for a “retired prelate.”

From Washington Post

Related Words

• veil