soutane

1 9.9

A long close-fitting robe with buttons down the front worn by Catholic priests

noun
/suːˈtɑːn/

: sotana

(Back then, the priests still wore long robes—soutanes—and spoke only Latin, even in the remotest villages.)

Examples

So as soon as my grandfather saw the cord of the black soutane heading for the door, swaying defiantly on the priest's waddling hips, he ran up and pulled with all his might and fury, ripping the cord clean off and tearing open the vestments.

Fiction book (2000)
On Sunday, the priest wore a black soutane as he led the congregation in prayer.
The young seminarian was excited to finally don his very first soutane during the ordination ceremony.
During the procession, they could see the bright white soutane of the lead priest flowing in the breeze.

Surface Forms

soutane singular

soutanes plural

Etymology

Soutane comes from the Italian sottana, from sotto meaning 'under'. It first meant a long underskirt and later became the name for the close, buttoned robe that priests wear, so that's why the word now refers to that long priestly garment.