surplice

American  

[sur-plis] / ˈsɜr plɪs /

noun

1. a loose-fitting, broad-sleeved white vestment, worn over the cassock by clergy and choristers.

2. a garment in which the two halves of the front cross diagonally.

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surplice British  

/ ˈsɜːplɪs /

noun

1. a loose wide-sleeved liturgical vestment of linen, reaching to the knees, worn over the cassock by clergymen, choristers, and acolytes

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Other Word Forms

• surpliced adjective
• unsurpliced adjective

Etymology

Origin of surplice

1250–1300; Middle English surplis < Anglo-French surpliz, syncopated variant of Old French surpeliz < Medieval Latin superpellīcium ( vestīmentum ) over-pelt (garment), neuter of superpellīcius (adj.), equivalent to Latin super- super- + pellīt ( us ) clothed with skins + -ius adj. suffix

Example Sentences

In the vestry, surrounded by racks of well-pressed white surplices and brightly coloured vestments, I met Ian and Paul, one of the couples he has blessed.

From BBC

Ms. Smith had already sourced her dress, an ivory, ankle-length gown, with three-quarter-length sleeves and a high surplice neckline from David’s Bridal.

From New York Times

Marshall stood erect, the lines of his padded morning-suit shoulders etched sharply against the vicar’s surplice.

From Literature

The cassock and surplice are the basic ‘ecclesiastically hip’ combo that is worn for fundamental priestly functions.

From The Wall Street Journal

As outlined by www.catholic.org, the priest must wear a type of embroidered white tunic called a surplice alongside a purple stole.

From BBC