Definition of SURPLICE

surplice

Plural: surplices

Noun

  • A loose-fitting white ecclesiastical vestment, typically worn by clergy.
  • a loose-fitting white ecclesiastical vestment with wide sleeves
  • A liturgical vestment of the Christian Church in the form of a tunic of white linen or cotton material, with wide or moderately wide sleeves, reaching to the hips or knees, usually featuring lace decoration and embroidered bordures.

Examples

  • The rare word SURPLICE, though high-scoring, looked oddly out of place on the Scrabble board.

Origin / Etymology

Inherited from Middle English surplys, from Old French surpeliz, from Medieval Latin superpelliceum, from Latin super (“over”) and pellis (“fur”).

Scrabble Score: 12

surplice: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
surplice: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
surplice: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

surplice: valid Words With Friends Word