sackcloth

[ sak-klawth, -kloth ]
/ ˈsækˌklɔθ, -ˌklɒθ /

noun

sacking.
coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or penitence.

Idioms for sackcloth

    in sackcloth and ashes, in a state of repentance or sorrow; contrite: She would be in sackcloth and ashes for days over every trifling error she made.

Origin of sackcloth

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sack1, cloth

OTHER WORDS FROM sackcloth

sack·clothed, adjective

Words nearby sackcloth

sack race, sack suit, sack time, sackable, sackbut, sackcloth, sackcloth and ashes, sacker, sackful, sacking, sacks

British Dictionary definitions for in sack cloth and ashes

sackcloth
/ (ˈsækˌklɒθ) /

noun

coarse cloth such as sacking
garments made of such cloth, worn formerly to indicate mourning or penitence
sackcloth and ashes a public display of extreme grief, remorse, or repentance