chasuble
UK[ˈtʃæz.jʊ.bəl]US[ˈtʃæz.jə.bəl]
n
A sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest celebrating the Eucharist.
Etymology
The word 'chasuble' traces its lineage to the Late Latin 'casubla', a variant of 'casula', meaning "little cottage" or "hooded cloak." This Latin term is a diminutive of 'casa', meaning "house" or "hut." The semantic journey is vividly metaphorical: the garment was conceived as a "little house" that envelops the wearer, much like a cloak. This 'casula' was adopted into Old French as 'chasuble', referring specifically to the ecclesiastical vestment, from which it entered Middle English. The term perfectly encapsulates the garment's defining characteristic—a large, encompassing piece of cloth with a central opening for the head, originally a common traveling cloak in the Roman Empire that was later reserved for liturgical use.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from French, which borrowed it from Late Latin. Its spelling and form are treated as a single, unsegmentable unit in modern English.
Examples
The priest carefully placed the ornate chasuble over his alb before the procession.
The medieval chasuble in the museum was embroidered with intricate gold thread.
The simplicity of the linen chasuble reflected the community's emphasis on humility.