surplice

[ sur-plis ]

/ ˈsɜr plɪs /

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noun

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

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

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM surplice

surpliced, adjectiveun·sur·pliced, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH surplice

surplice , surplus

Words nearby surplice

surmountable, surmullet, surname, surpass, surpassing, surplice, surplus, surplusage, surplus value, surprint, surprisal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use surplice in a sentence

The name is now appropriated to the short surplice worn by bishops over their cassocks.'
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
While conducting the preliminary service he wears a white surplice; in the pulpit he has a black gown.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
He wears neither surplice nor black gown in the pulpit, and does quite as well without as with them.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
Pre Glorieux, opening his knapsack, drew a surplice over his uniform and rose with a sudden majesty.
The Wasted Generation|Owen Johnson

If you could see him come out of the vestry in his white surplice, with his rapt face and prophetic eyes.
The Man Between|Amelia E. Barr

British Dictionary definitions for surplice

surplice

/ (ˈsɜːplɪs) /

noun

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

Derived forms of surplice

surpliced, adjective

Word Origin for surplice

C13: via Anglo-French from Old French sourpelis, from Medieval Latin superpellīcium, from super- + pellīcium coat made of skins, from Latin pellis a skin

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