the cloth used for covering an altar: often applied also to the frontal
altar cloth in American English
noun
a cloth covering for an altar
Word origin
[1150–1200; ME]This word is first recorded in the period 1150–1200. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: gear, honor, raise, stamp, waste
Examples of 'altar cloth' in a sentence
altar cloth
The candles had spluttered wax across the old woven altar cloth.
Barbara Erskine HIDING FROM THE LIGHT
Now it has taken on the appearance of some kind of altar cloth.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Religious books, a valuable altar cloth and carpets and fittings were destroyed.