frock

 
Pronunciation: /frɒk/

noun

chiefly British
  • 1a woman’s or girl’s dress: her new party frock
  • 2a loose outer garment, in particular:
  • a long gown with flowing sleeves worn by monks, priests, or clergy: the chaplain tottered in stiff splendid frocks
  • historical an agricultural worker’s smock; a smock-frock.
  • short for frock coat.
  • archaic a woollen jersey worn by sailors: his Cornish-knit frock
  • 3 archaic the work and position of a priest: such words as these cost the preacher his frock

Derivatives

frocked

adjective
[in combination]: a black-frocked Englishman

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French froc, of Germanic origin. The sense 'priest's or monk's gown' is preserved in defrock