pallium

American  

[pal-ee-uhm] / ˈpæl i əm /

noun

plural

pallia, palliums

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.

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pallium British  

/ 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 called: mantle.  anatomy the cerebral cortex and contiguous white matter

4. zoology another name for mantle

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Etymology

Origin of pallium

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

Explanation

In ancient times, philosophers and teachers commonly wore a pallium, or cloak, draped over their shoulders. Today, a pallium is mainly known as a religious vestment worn by the Pope. In the Catholic church, a pallium is worn only by the Pope and a few archbishops. This long, narrow band is white, and it has to be knitted at least in part from lambswool from sheep raised by Trappist monks. This garment, which is adorned with six black crosses, has a lot of religious significance to devout Catholics. The word itself simply means "cloak" in Latin.

Example Sentences

And even the Roman toga was contrasted with the Greek pallium cloak, in an effort to articulate Roman identity.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

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

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2023

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 • Jan. 4, 2023

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 • Jan. 3, 2023

He condemned the iconoclasts at a council convened at Rome in November 731, and, like his predecessor Gregory II., stimulated the missionary labours of St Boniface, on whom he conferred the pallium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various

Related Words

• veil