cloak

[klohk]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cloak ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a loose outer garment, as a cape or coat.

something that covers or conceals; disguise; pretense: He conducts his affairs under a cloak of secrecy.

verb (used with object)

to cover with or as if with a cloak: She arrived at the opera cloaked in green velvet.

to hide; conceal: The mission was cloaked in mystery.

Nearby words

Origin of cloak

1175–1225; Middle English cloke (< Old French) < Medieval Latin cloca, variant of clocca bell-shaped cape, bell; see clock¹

SYNONYMS FOR cloak

2. cover, mask, veil.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cloak ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formscloak·less, adjectiveun·der·cloak, nounwell-cloaked, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cloak

Some have innocuous-seeming URLs like cardpool.com or giftcardgranny.com, which cloak the sinister operations.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the conspiratorial mind using skepticism as a cloak for intellectual laziness.
Russell Brand’s Revolution For Morons|Michael Moynihan|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Arm people with a cloak of anonymity and a shield of non-accountability, and watch the cavalcade of crazy charge.
Solange Is Blue Ivy’s Mom and Other Crazy Conspiracy Theories|Kevin Fallon|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Defending diversity, not a tool of oppression hidden beneath a cloak called “justice” or “equality.”
Female Journalist Gets Rape Threats Over Comic Book Criticism|Tauriq Moosa|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Meanwhile, on the stand, Morris presents his version of the facts under the cloak of immunity.
‘You’re a F—cking Liar’: Whitey Bulger and the FBI’s Sordid History|T.J. English|July 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Gretel, as soon as she saw what was up, begged to be taken along, and found a cloak for herself in the room.
The Road to Paris|Robert Neilson Stephens
Mr. Woodcourt, disregarding my remonstrances, had hurriedly taken off his cloak and was putting it about me.
Bleak House|Charles Dickens
He flung from him the bit of the girl's cloak which, ripped and shredded as though by a powerful hand, cried disaster.
Darkness and Dawn|George Allan England
She threw back the wimple from her head, and pulling away her cloak, tossed it on to the bed.
Mistress Wilding|Rafael Sabatini
With these words she put aside the veil and dropped the cloak from her shoulders.
Wonder Tales from Many Lands|Katharine Pyle

British Dictionary definitions for cloak

cloak

noun

a wraplike outer garment fastened at the throat and falling straight from the shoulders

something that covers or conceals

verb (tr)

to cover with or as if with a cloak

to hide or disguise

Word Origin for cloak

C13: from Old French cloque, from Medieval Latin clocca cloak, bell; referring to the bell-like shape

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cloak

cloak

late 13c., "long, loose outer garment," from Old North French cloque (Old French cloche, cloke) "travelling cloak," from Medieval Latin clocca "travelers' cape," literally "a bell," so called from the garment's bell-like shape (the word is thus a doublet of clock (n.1)). An article of everyday wear in England through 16c., somewhat revived 19c. as a fashion garment. Cloak-and-dagger (adj.) attested from 1848, said to be ultimately translating French de cape et d'épée, suggestive of stealthy violence and intrigue.

Other "cloak and dagger pieces," as Bouterwek tells us the Spaniards call their intriguing comedies, might be tried advantageously in the night, .... ["Levana; or the Doctrine of Education," English translation, London, 1848]

cloak

c.1500, from cloak (n.). Figuratively from 1540s. Related: Cloaked; cloaking.

cloak

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of cloak

Examples from the Web for cloak

cloak

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for cloak

cloak

cloak