Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A monk's sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders and sometimes has a cowl.
  • noun A pair of pieces of cloth joined by shoulder bands and worn under clothing on the chest and back as a sacramental, sometimes entailing lay affiliation with a religious order.
  • noun One of the feathers covering the shoulder of a bird.
  • adjective Of or relating to the shoulder or scapula.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of or pertaining to the shoulders or the shoulder-blades; pertaining to the scapula (in any sense), or to scapulars. Also scapulary.
  • Posterior, the continuation of the transversalis colli along the vertebral border of the scapula as far as the inferior angle.
  • noun A short cloak with a hood, apparently confined to monastic orders, and among them the garment for use while at work, etc., as distinguished from a fuller and longer robe; hence, specifically, a long narrow strip of cloth, covering the shoulders and hanging down before and behind to the knees, worn by certain religious orders; two small pieces of cloth connected by strings, and worn over the shoulders by lay persons in the Roman Catholic Church, as a token of devotion, in honor of the Virgin Mary, etc.
  • noun In surgery, a bandage for the shoulder-blade. Also scapulary.
  • noun In ornithology, the bundle of feathers which springs from the pteryla humeralis or humeral tract, at or near the shoulder, and lies along the side of the back; the shoulder-feathers: generally used in the plural. Also scapulary. See cut under covert.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Zoöl.) One of a special group of feathers which arise from each of the scapular regions and lie along the sides of the back.
  • adjective Of or pertaining to the scapula or the shoulder.
  • adjective (Anat.) the pectoral arch. See under pectoral.
  • adjective (Zoöl.) a definite longitudinal area over the shoulder and along each side of the back of a bird, from which the scapular feathers arise.
  • noun A loose sleeveless vestment falling in front and behind, worn by certain religious orders and devout persons.
  • noun The name given to two pieces of cloth worn under the ordinary garb and over the shoulders as an act of devotion.
  • noun (Surg.) A bandage passing over the shoulder to support it, or to retain another bandage in place.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Christianity A cloth talisman, usually with an embroidered image of a saint, worn around the neck.
  • noun zoology One of a special group of feathers which arise from each of the scapular regions and lie along the sides of the back.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a feather covering the shoulder of a bird
  • noun garment consisting of a long wide piece of woolen cloth worn over the shoulders with an opening for the head; part of a monastic habit
  • adjective relating to or near the shoulder blade

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English scapulare, from Late Latin scapulāre, from neuter of scapulāris, pertaining to the shoulders or scapulae, from scapula, shoulder; see scapula.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin scapulāre, from Latin scapula ("shoulder"). Compare scapulary.

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Examples

  • A smaller form of the scapular is given to lay persons in order that they may share in the great graces associated with it.

    A Little Rock'n'Roll with our Elevenses John 2008

  • The Blessed Virgin scapular should remind us that Christians have an apostolate against current extremes and extravagances in modes of dress.

    A Little Rock'n'Roll with our Elevenses John 2008

  • For non-Catholics: a scapular is two scraps of wool cloth with an image of the Blessed Mother on it worn front and back over the shoulders (it's actually a residual religious habit) as a sign of following the order of Mount Carmel, a very ancient order that traces its history back to the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel, a way of fasting and prayer and holiness of life.

    What I do with Old Scapulars regina doman 2007

  • For non-Catholics: a scapular is two scraps of wool cloth with an image of the Blessed Mother on it worn front and back over the shoulders (it's actually a residual religious habit) as a sign of following the order of Mount Carmel, a very ancient order that traces its history back to the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel, a way of fasting and prayer and holiness of life.

    Archive 2007-01-01 regina doman 2007

  • Although this badge is often called a scapular, it is not really such; consequently the conditions governing scapulars do not apply to it.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13: Revelation-Stock 1840-1916 1913

  • In fact the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel began to be called the scapular feast.

    Archive 2009-07-01 elena maria vidal 2009

  • One of the early Carmelites in his enthusiasm went so far as to call the scapular a "sacrament."

    Archive 2009-07-01 elena maria vidal 2009

  • The scapular is a long, broad piece of woolen cloth forming a part of the religious dress of monks, priests and sisters of some religious orders.

    Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (of 4) Anonymous

  • It is called scapular because it rests on the shoulders.

    Baltimore Catechism No. 4 (of 4) An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine Thomas L. Kinkead

  • The scapular is a large broad piece of cloth worn by the monks and priests of some of the religious orders.

    Baltimore Catechism No. 4 (of 4) An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine Thomas L. Kinkead

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  • In various Christian traditions the term scapular is also applied to a small devotional artifact worn by male and female non-monastics in the belief that this will be of spiritual benefit to them. The Roman Catholic Church considers it a sacramental. It consists of two small squares of cloth, wood or laminated paper, bearing religious images or text, which are joined by two bands of cloth. The wearer places one square on the chest, rests the bands one on each shoulder and lets the second square drop down the back.

    _Wikipedia

    February 4, 2008