defrock
Other forms: defrocked; defrocking
Defrock comes from frock, an old word for "dress." Priests, nuns, monks, and other church officials wear a frock to symbolize their job. If they leave the church, they are said to be defrocked: their gown is taken away.
Although it is still common to refer to defrocked priests (priests who have left the priesthood for one reason or another), the word does not have a generally-used meaning outside of the clergy. You would not refer to a "defrocked teacher" or a "defrocked coach."
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remove from one's position in the church
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing defrock
In the thirteenth century, travelers at an inn tell tales about the adventures of three children attempting to escape religious persecution.
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