cilice
/ˈsɪlɪs/
noun
- A garment or belt made of rough cloth or hair, worn by some religious people as a form of self-punishment or to show devotion.
- The monk wore a cilice under his robes as a reminder of his vows.
- In some traditions, a cilice is used for penance during Lent.
- She read about historical figures who wore a cilice to practice humility.
- Any uncomfortable or irritating garment worn to cause suffering, often used figuratively.
- He treated the strict dress code like a cilice, complaining about it every day.
- The uncomfortable uniform was a cilice for the new recruits.
- For the actor, the heavy costume felt like a cilice during the long performance.