sanbenito
san·be·ni·tonoun
pl. -·tos- a yellow garment resembling a scapular in shape and having a red Saint Andrew's cross in front and in back, worn by a confessed, penitent heretic in the Spanish Inquisition
- a similarly shaped black garment painted with flames, devils, etc., worn by a condemned heretic at an auto-da-fé
Origin of sanbenito
Spanish sambenito, after San Benito, Saint Benedict (see Benedict): from resembling a Benedictine scapularsanbenito
noun
pl. san·be·ni·tosA garment of sackcloth worn at an auto-da-fé of the Spanish Inquisition by condemned heretics, being yellow with red crosses for the penitent and black with painted flames and devils for the impenitent.
Origin of sanbenito
Spanish sambenito after San Benito , Saint Benedict of Nursia (from its similarity to the scapular supposedly introduced by him)sanbenito
Noun
(plural sanbenitos)
- (historical) A sackcloth coat worn by penitents on being reconciled to the church.
- (historical) A garment or cap, or sometimes both, painted with flames, figures, etc., and worn by those who had been examined by the Inquisition and were brought forth for the auto da fe.
Origin
Spanish sambenito.
