habiliment

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The Word of the Day for January 23 is:

habiliment   \huh-BILL-uh-munt\   noun
     1 plural : characteristic apparatus : trappings
     2 a : the dress characteristic of an occupation or 
occasion -- usually used in plural  *b : clothes -- usually 
used in plural 

Example sentence:
     "His own figure, in spite of his mean habiliments, assumed 
an air of state and grandeur." (Nathaniel Hawthorne, _The 
Blithedale Romance_)

Did you know?
     "Habiliment," from Middle French "abillement," is a bit 
old-fashioned and is best used to describe complex, multi-
pieced outfits like those of medieval times. For instance, a 
full suit of armor -- which might include a helmet, gorget, 
pallette, brassard, skirt of tasses, tuille, gauntlet, cuisse, 
jambeau, and solleret, along with other pieces and plates -- 
can be considered the habiliments of a knight. 
Nowadays, "habiliment," which is usually used in its plural 
form, is most fitting for the dress of an occupation, such as 
the different vestments of a priest, or for clothes, such as 
elegant formal wear, worn on special occasions. 
When "habiliment" is used for plain old "clothes," it is more 
than likely for jocular or poetic effect.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.