cloak

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A loose outer garment, such as a cape.
2. n. Something that covers or conceals: a cloak of secrecy.
3. v. To cover or conceal with or as if with a cloak. See Synonyms at clothe, disguise, hide¹.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Properly, a loose outer garment without sleeves, worn by either sex as a protection from the weather: now frequently used, though erroneously, for a sleeved outer wrap worn by women. In the sixteenth century the cloak was an article of every-day wear, and was made with large loose armholes, through which the sleeves of the undergarment were passed, as is seen in portraits of Henry VIII. and the nobles of his court. Later it was shortened, and became in common use little more than a cape, though large and long cloaks were still used in traveling. In the latter part of the seventeenth century cloaks were abandoned, except for protection from cold and wet, on account of the changing fashion of the outer coat. Under the name of Spanish cloak, this garment was worn from about 1800 to 1840 in Great Britain and America, the shape being a half-circle; it had a broad collar, often of fur or of velvet, which was continued down the edges of the cloak on both sides in breadths of a foot or more. When in use, one of these edges was drawn across the breast and flung over the opposite shoulder with the breadth of fur or velvet turned outward, so as to form a decorative draping, falling from the shoulder behind. The same garment is still worn as the most common winter dress in certain Italian cities.
2. n. Figuratively, that which conceals; a cover; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a fair pretense.
3. To cover with or as with a cloak.
4. Figuratively, to cover up; hide; conceal.
5. Synonyms To hide, conceal, mask, cover, veil, screen.
6. To intrigue; hold secret council.
7. n. In mollusks, same as mantle or pallium.

Wiktionary

1. n. A long outer garment worn over the shoulders covering the back; a cape, often with a hood.
2. n. A blanket-like covering, often metaphorical.
3. n. Internet A text replacement for an IRC user's hostname or IP address, making the user less identifiable.
4. v. To cover as with a cloak.
5. v. science fiction To render invisible via futuristic technology.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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. n. That which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a fair pretense; a mask; a cover.
3. v. To cover with, or as with, a cloak; hence, to hide or conceal.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. cover with or as if with a cloak
2. v. cover as if with clothing
3. v. hide under a false appearance
4. n. anything that covers or conceals
5. n. a loose outer garment