Hypertext Webster Gateway: "cloak"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Cloak
an upper garment, "an exterior tunic, wide and long, reaching to
the ankles, but without sleeves" (Isa. 59:17). The word so
rendered is elsewhere rendered "robe" or "mantle." It was worn
by the high priest under the ephod (Ex. 28:31), by kings and
others of rank (1 Sam. 15:27; Job 1:20; 2:12), and by women (2
Sam. 13:18).
The word translated "cloke", i.e., outer garment, in Matt.
5:40 is in its plural form used of garments in general (Matt.
17:2; 26:65). The cloak mentioned here and in Luke 6:29 was the
Greek himation, Latin pallium, and consisted of a large square
piece of wollen cloth fastened round the shoulders, like the
abba of the Arabs. This could be taken by a creditor (Ex.
22:26,27), but the coat or tunic (Gr. chiton) mentioned in Matt.
5:40 could not.
The cloak which Paul "left at Troas" (2 Tim. 4:13) was the
Roman paenula, a thick upper garment used chiefly in travelling
as a protection from the weather. Some, however, have supposed
that what Paul meant was a travelling-bag. In the Syriac version
the word used means a bookcase. (See {Dress}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cloak \Cloak\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cloaked}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Cloaking}.]
To cover with, or as with, a cloak; hence, to hide or
conceal.
Now glooming sadly, so to cloak her matter. --Spenser.
Syn: See {Palliate}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cloak \Cloak\ (?; 110), n. [Of. cloque cloak (from the bell-like
shape), bell, F. cloche bell; perh. of Celtic origin and the
same word as E. clock. See 1st {Clock}.]
1. A loose outer garment, extending from the neck downwards,
and commonly without sleeves. It is longer than a cape,
and is worn both by men and by women.
2. That which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a
fair pretense; a mask; a cover.
No man is esteemed any ways considerable for policy
who wears religion otherwise than as a cloak.
--South.
{Cloak bag}, a bag in which a cloak or other clothes are
carried; a portmanteau. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
cloak
n 1: anything that covers or conceals
2: a loose outer garment
v : hide under a false appearance [syn: {dissemble}, {mask}]
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