sackcloth
sackcloth — noun
1. a heavy, scratchy fabric woven from plant fibres, most often turned into large,
a heavy, scratchy fabric woven from plant fibres, most often turned into large, sturdy bags for carrying grain, potatoes, and other dry goods
The farmer loaded potatoes into heavy sackcloth bags before the storm arrived.
collocation: sackcloth bags
Esther sewed patches of sackcloth over the holes in the old grain sacks.
collocation: patches of sackcloth
The warehouse floor was covered with loose sackcloth and scattered wheat.
A bolt of sackcloth leaned against the wall of the miller's workshop.
Kwame wrapped the fragile pottery in thick sackcloth to protect it during the journey.
用法筆記
Uncountable noun. Refers to the fabric material, not to individual bags or sacks.
常見錯誤
2. a scratchy robe made from coarse cloth, put on in biblical times to show that th
a scratchy robe made from coarse cloth, put on in biblical times to show that the wearer was grieving or deeply sorry
The prophet wandered through Nineveh draped in sackcloth as a sign of repentance.
collocation: draped in sackcloth
King David tore his robes and put on sackcloth after the death of his son.
collocation: put on sackcloth
The entire council sat in sackcloth on the dusty ground, mourning the city's defeat.
Fatima read about the old custom of wearing sackcloth when confessing a terrible wrong.
Pilgrims once climbed the mountain in sackcloth to ask for forgiveness.
- hairshirt
a similar penitential garment, but worn under clothing and typically made of animal hair rather than plant fibres
用法筆記
Distinguish from COARSE FABRIC (sense 1): this sense refers specifically to a garment worn to display grief or remorse. Most often encountered in the biblical phrase 'sackcloth and ashes.' Can be used with or without an article.