Cassock
/ˈkæs.ək/noun
A long, close-fitting robe worn by clergy and some choirs.
Did you know?The word’s history is tangled and uncertain, but it likely passed through French and may ultimately connect to a term for a long coat or riding garment rather than anything sacred.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
cassok
“a clerical robe”
Old French
OF
casaque
“a long outer garment or coat”
Italian
It
casacca
“a loose coat or tunic”
Medieval Latin
ML
casa
“a garment or coat (source form uncertain)”
Modern English
English
cassock
“a long robe worn by clergy”