pallium

American  

[pal-ee-uhm] / ˈpæl i əm /

noun

pallia, plural palliums plural

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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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• palliums
  plural
• pallia
  plural

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

Pope Francis celebrates a Mass where he bestowed the Pallium, a woolen shawl symbolizing the bond to the pope, to 25 new Archbishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

From US News • Jun. 29, 2016

On her wrists the Archbishop placed the Armills, or "Bracelets of sincerity and wisdom," over her shoulders was draped the golden Pallium, symbol of "the robe of righteousness and the garments of salvation."

From Time Magazine Archive

Urban sent a legate to England with the Pallium.

From Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

The Pallium was originally an imperial gift to the popes, probably in the fourth century.

From Ravenna, a Study by Hutton, Edward

Did he receive the Pallium from Rome, sent by special Papal messengers?

From The Purpose of the Papacy by Vaughan, John S. (John Stephen)

Related Words

• veil