A long, loose robe with wide sleeves, typically worn by clergy during religious services as vestment.
From Latin 'dalmatica,' originally a garment from Dalmatia (a region in the Mediterranean). The word entered English through ecclesiastical use during the Middle Ages when this garment became standard clerical dress.
The dalmatic started as everyday wear for Roman soldiers from Dalmatia—the same basic garment transformed into sacred vestments shows how utility clothing becomes ritual dress, gaining symbolic weight over centuries.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.