sanbenito

American  

[san-buh-nee-toh] / ˌsæn bəˈni toʊ /

noun

plural

sanbenitos

1. an ornamented garment worn by a condemned heretic at an auto-da-f é.

2. a penitential garment worn by a confessed heretic, of yellow for the penitent, of black for the impenitent.

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sanbenito British  

/ ˌsænbəˈniːtəʊ /

noun

1. a yellow garment bearing a red cross, worn by penitent heretics in the Inquisition

2. a black garment bearing flames and devils, worn by impenitent heretics at an auto-da-fé

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Etymology

Origin of sanbenito

1550–60; < Spanish, named after San Benito Saint Benedict, from its resemblance to the scapular believed to have been introduced by him

Example Sentences

Referencing “Sanbenito” cloaks, which were used to shame criminals during the Spanish Inquisition, Salcedo’s shawls will never keep their wearers warm.

From Washington Post

Bad Bunny @sanbenito 🐰 was spotted today on a film shoot in Boyle Heights!

From Los Angeles Times

Valer's sanbenito was displayed for a long time in the metropolitan church of Seville.

From Project Gutenberg

The slow, dismal tolling of bells; the masked and muffled familiars; the Dominicans carrying their horrid flag, followed by the penitents behind a huge cross; the condemned ones, barefoot, clad in painted caps and the repulsive sanbenito; next the effigies of accused offenders who had escaped by flight; then, the bones of dead culprits in black coffins painted with flames and other hellish symbols; and, finally, the train closing with a host of priests and monks.

From Project Gutenberg

"Prithee, thou brown-robed fellow, how looked he in a sanbenito--that tall, fierce, black-bearded Captain that your Provincial mentions here?"

From Project Gutenberg