sackcloth

English

Etymology

sack +‎ cloth

Noun

sackcloth (countable and uncountable, plural sackcloths)

  1. A coarse hessian style of cloth used to make sacks.
  2. (Usually paired with 'ashes'), garments worn as an act of penance. Now often used figuratively.
    After he realised the gravity of his crime he spent some time wearing sackcloth and ashes.

Translations

References
  • OED2
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