sanbenito

noun

san·​be·​ni·​to ˌsan-bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō 

ˌsam-

plural sanbenitos

1

: a sackcloth coat worn by penitents on being reconciled to the church

2

: a Spanish Inquisition garment resembling a scapular and being either yellow with red crosses for the penitent or black with painted devils and flames for the impenitent condemned to an auto-da-fé

Word History

Etymology

Spanish sambenito, from San Benito St. Benedict of Nursia

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Geographical Definition

San Benito

geographical name

San Be·​ni·​to ˌsan-bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō 

city in southernmost Texas northwest of Brownsville population 24,250