A humbling submission or confession, often referring to a person going to Canossa—a reference to the medieval Italian castle where Henry IV submitted to Pope Gregory VII.
From Canossa, a fortress in Italy where in 1077 Emperor Henry IV did penance before the Pope, symbolizing the power of the Church over secular rulers.
When someone makes a 'trip to Canossa' in German politics, it means humbling submission to an opponent—the original event was so dramatic it became a metaphor for surrender.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.