chasuble: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Ecclesiastical, Technical
Quick answer
What does “chasuble” mean?
A sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest celebrating the Eucharist.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest celebrating the Eucharist.
A specific liturgical garment, typically ornate and often decorated with religious symbols, that is put on over the alb and stole during Mass.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. The word is identical in both varieties, used within the same religious contexts.
Connotations
Identical religious and ceremonial connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, known primarily to those with knowledge of Christian liturgy or historical costume.
Grammar
How to Use “chasuble” in a Sentence
The priest wore a [adjective] chasuble.The [colour/material] chasuble was laid out for the Mass.He vested in the chasuble.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chasuble” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The priest will chasuble? (NO VERB FORM)
American English
- The celebrant chasubled? (NO VERB FORM)
adjective
British English
- The chasubled priest processed in. (Rare, poetic)
American English
- He looked every bit the chasubled celebrant. (Rare, descriptive)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in theological, historical, or art history texts discussing Christian liturgy or medieval material culture.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of discussions about church services or historical re-enactment.
Technical
Standard term in liturgical studies, ecclesiastical tailoring, and religious art conservation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chasuble”
- Misspelling: 'chasabel', 'chasible'.
- Mispronunciation: /tʃəˈsuːbəl/ (like 'casual' with a 'b').
- Using it to refer to any general priestly robe, rather than the specific Eucharistic vestment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cassock is an ankle-length, long-sleeved garment worn as everyday clerical dress. A chasuble is a specific, often shorter, sleeveless vestment worn only during the celebration of the Eucharist over the alb and stole.
Typically, no. The chasuble is a vestment reserved for the ordained priest (celebrant) or sometimes the bishop officiating at the Eucharist. In some very rare modern contexts, a layperson might wear one in a symbolic dramatic performance, but not in an actual liturgy.
Chasubles follow the liturgical colours of the church year: white/gold (feasts), red (martyrdom, Pentecost), green (ordinary time), purple/violet (Advent, Lent), and sometimes black or rose.
It derives from the Late Latin 'casubla', a hooded garment, which itself came from 'casula', meaning 'little house' or 'cottage', likely due to the garment's tent-like shape covering the wearer.
A sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest celebrating the Eucharist.
Chasuble is usually formal, ecclesiastical, technical in register.
Chasuble: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃæz.jʊ.bəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃæz.jə.bəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a priest in a CHASuble at the CHASe (altar) during Mass. The 'chas' sound is the key.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PRIEST'S ROLE IS A GARMENT. The chasuble is a concrete symbol of the priest's liturgical office and function during the Eucharist.
Practice
Quiz
A chasuble is primarily associated with which activity?