Roman collar

English

Noun

Roman collar (plural Roman collars)

1. A clerical collar.
   • 1844, Difficulties of a Young Clergyman in Times of Division:

     'The Rev. Sebastian Diggles!' said the servant at that instant, throwing open the library-door, and ushering in a tall, heavy-looking personage, somewhat quaintly attired in the clerical costume of the last century, relieved by a few additional peculiarities—to wit, a Roman collar, &c.

   • 1881, John O'Brien, A History of the Mass and Its Ceremonies in the Eastern and Western Church:

     The clerical Collar, generally styled the Roman Collar, and in French Rabat, was unknown as an article of ecclesiastical attire, at least in its present form, prior to the sixteenth century.

   • 2011, Jordan Nyenyembe, African Catholic Priests: Confronting an Identity Problem, page 74:

     In some places priests who appear always in Roman collar are suspected of aspiring to higher offices. It is taken so because usually the bishops appear in this official dress. The wearing of Roman collar can potentially depersonalize someone.