Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stiff white collar with no opening in the front; a distinctive symbol of the clergy: A clerical collar is a piece of clerical clothing, typically a stiff, white, detachable collar that fastens at the back. It is worn by ordained clergy members of various Christian denominations as a visible sign of their office and vocation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The priest adjusted his clerical collar before the service.
  • She recognized him as a minister by his distinctive clerical collar.

Advanced Usage

• "To wear the collar": A metonymic phrase meaning to be an ordained member of the clergy.
  • After years of study, he finally felt ready to wear the collar.

Variants and Related Words

• Roman collar: Another common term for a clerical collar, especially within the Roman Catholic tradition.

  • His Roman collar was neatly pressed.

• Dog collar: An informal, sometimes humorous term for a clerical collar, due to its visual resemblance to a pet's collar.

  • In the village, children would sometimes point and whisper, "There's the man with the dog collar."

Synonyms

• Clergy collar: A direct synonym emphasizing its wearers.
• Neckband: A more general term for a band around the neck, which can describe the style.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "The white collar": Can be used symbolically to refer to the clergy as a profession or calling, distinguishing it from secular "white-collar" office work.
  • He traded in his business suit for the white collar of the priesthood.

Noun

1. a stiff white collar with no opening in the front; a distinctive symbol of the clergy