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sur·plice

(sûrplĭs)

A loose-fitting, white ecclesiastical gown with wide sleeves, worn over a cassock.

adj.

Designating a garment with a V-shaped neckline in which fabric from one side of the garment diagonally overlaps fabric from the other side before being sown together.

[Middle English surplis, from Anglo-Norman surpliz, variant of Old French sourpeliz, from Medieval Latin superpellīcium : Latin super-, super- + Medieval Latin pellīcium, fur coat (from Latin, neuter of pellīcius, made of skin, from pellis, skin; see pel-³ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

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surplice

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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