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

Explanation

If you sing in the choir at your church, you might wear a surplice — a loose, wide-sleeved robe. It says a lot about you if you've ever donned one of these in earnest — namely, that you are or have been a chorister or a member of the clergy. It's a coverall garment that gives a certain ceremonial look in various Christian services. The Latin root, curiously, means "over fur garment;" The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica helpfully informs us that "it was formerly put on over the fur garments which used to be worn in church as a protection against the cold."

Example Sentences

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 • Jul. 21, 2021

A biretta is a stiff, four-cornered hat, topped with a big, fluffy tassel, that can be worn with a cassock and surplice!

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2018

Paul Scalia, wearing a purple stole, black cassock and white surplice, waited at the top of the steps.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2016

She would walk me to the chapel, where I would put on my surplice and head out to light the altar candles.

From MSNBC • Oct. 9, 2015

She could see him, moving slowly past, his white surplice edged with lace, his sweet chin down and his hair glowing under the candlelight.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck