Roman collar
1
8.4
- noun
:
collar romano
- NB: Outside liturgical functions, a black suit and Roman collar are the usual attire for priests.
- wear a Roman collar
Examples
-
She stared at the unexpected white line across his throat that was his Roman collar.
Fiction book (1991) -
When I was growing up, there was one parish in town (mine) that had altar boys, no sign of peace, nuns with habits, priests with Roman collars, and an organ.
Blog text (16) -
When not possible, they'll usually wear something slightly more practical, but still clerical-looking and a Roman collar.
Blog text (26) -
He wore the clerics and the Roman collar when he was in his capacity as a priest, but lived very much...
-
I think they look decent, but I never liked to wear the Roman collars and shirt fronts and such that you had to pin in front and in back.
Blog text (26) -
Just wearing a dark suit and black clerical shirt with a Roman collar is the equivalent of the many nuns who have ceased wearing the habit.
Blog text (26) -
He is a tall, balding, paunchy man in a wrinkled black suit and a yellowing Roman collar.
Fiction book (1994) -
Although only of average height, Father Jiminez was as imposing as any man a foot taller, with jet-black hair and eyes even darker, in a black clerical suit with a Roman collar.
Fiction book (1992) -
The priest wore a Roman collar to signify his clergy role during the ceremony.
-
Many observant churchgoers recognize the Roman collar as a symbol of their faith.
Synonyms
121
1.0
A band of material around the neck of a shirt, coat, dress, or shoe
1
7.4
A stiff white band worn around the neck by Christian priests and ministers to show they are church leaders
1
6.8
A stiff white collar with no front opening worn by some priests or ministers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'Roman' specifies affiliation (Roman/Roman Catholic) and 'collar' names a neck band, so a learner who knows both words will infer it is the distinctive collar worn by Roman Catholic clergy. While exact details (stiffness, white color, closed front) are specific and might require exposure, the referent and general meaning are transparent and cross‑linguistically parallel.
Etymology
Roman collar may come from the way priests in Rome long ago wore a stiff white band called a collar around the neck. That bright white band made them easy to spot, so Roman collar became a sign of a 'priest' or other church leader.