Sackcloth
/ˈsækˌklɒθ/noun
Coarse cloth made from sack-like material, traditionally worn as a sign of mourning, repentance, or humiliation.
Did you know?In the Bible and medieval Europe, sackcloth was worn as a visible act of mourning or repentance, turning clothing into a public spell of sorrow and submission.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
sacc + clāþ
“sack + cloth, coarse cloth”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sakkaz
“bag or sack”
Late Latin
Latin
saccus
“bag or sack”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sakkos
“bag or coarse cloth”
Modern English
English
sackcloth
“coarse cloth worn for mourning or penance”