sackcloth

noun

sack·​cloth ˈsa(k)-ˌklȯth 

1

: a coarse cloth of goat or camel's hair or of flax, hemp, or cotton

2

: a garment of sackcloth worn as a sign of mourning or penitence

Examples of sackcloth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the end, de Hales agreed to abjure the realm, which meant walking, barefoot, to the port of Chester, a hundred and thirty miles away, holding a wooden cross and wearing sackcloth, and taking a ship across the Irish Sea, never to return. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024

While sackcloths have fallen out of use, the meaning of wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday has stayed the same. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024

These people wore sackcloth, were sprinkled with ashes and remained apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community. —Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024

In Jesus' time, sackcloths and ashes were used as a public display of repentance, says Bible Study Tools. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

sack entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sackcloth

• don/wear sackcloth and ashes

Kids Definition

sackcloth

noun

sack·​cloth ˈsak-ˌ(k)lȯth 

1

: rough cloth for sacks

2

: a garment of sackcloth worn as a sign of sorrow