Bible Dictionaries
Surplice

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Sureties

Next Entry
Suso, Henry, Blessed

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Dictionaries
American Church Dictionary
• Surpliced Choir
• Surplice
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Surplice
Webster Dictionary
• Surpliced
• Surplice
Encyclopedias
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Surplice
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Surplice
• Surplice-Fee
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
• Surplice
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Surplice

(Latin: a garment)

A vestment of white linen, reaching to a little below the hips, having wide sleeves, often ornamented with lace. It is worn over the cassock by clerics and altar boys at many sacred functions, signifying the purity of heart becoming God's ministers. The name surplice (Latin: superpeliceum; super, over; pelliceum, fur clothing) indicates its origin. It was formerly a linen gown worn over fur clothing by ecclesiastics while chanting the divine office in cold weather.