Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A liturgical vestment consisting of an oblong piece of white linen worn around the neck and shoulders and partly under the alb.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A furred hood having long ends hanging down the front of the dress, something like the stole, worn by the clergy from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century for warmth when officiating in the church during inclement weather.
  • noun . A loose wrap or cloak.
  • noun In the Roman Catholic Church and in many Anglican churches, an oblong piece of linen, large enough to cover the shoulders, worn with the upper edge fastened round the neck, under the alb, whenever the latter vestment is used.
  • noun Also written amict.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A square of white linen worn at first on the head, but now about the neck and shoulders, by priests of the Roman Catholic Church while saying Mass.
  • noun (Eccl.) A hood, or cape with a hood, made of lined with gray fur, formerly worn by the clergy; -- written also amess, amyss, and almuce.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A hood, or cape with a hood, made of or lined with grey fur, formerly worn by the clergy.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, probably from Old French amis, pl. of amit, from Latin amictus, mantle, from past participle of amicīre, to wrap around : am-, ambi-, around; see ambi– + iacere, to throw; see yē- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

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  • It's a wrap!

    April 29, 2012