Clothing and Vestments

Alb: From the Latin for "white."  A long, sleeved robe, usually white or undyed, worn by many priests when celebrating communion.  It is generally worn over daily clothes and the cassock, but under other vestments.  It is derived from the under-tunic worn in Roman times.

Amice: A large square or rectangular piece of white cloth with strings attached.  It is worn under the alb as a hood, over the shoulders, or collar.  The strings are wound around the neck before being tied around the chest and waist.

Cassock: A black robe worn over street clothes by priests serving at the altar, usually with a white over-garment called a surplice.  It buttons in front, and should be long enough to cover the ankles.  In more "high" churches, it may also be worn by laity serving during a worship service, such as lectors, vergers, chalice ministers and others.  Bishops' cassocks are usually purple.  A Canon may wear a black cassock with red piping, or (with permission) may wear a purple cassock.  Deans and archdeacons may wear black cassocks with red or purple piping.  Before 1900, most formal clothes were black and most work clothes were not dyed.  Thus, the main historic distinction between albs and cassocks is that albs are working clothes and cassocks are formal clothes, so if the alb expresses humility, the cassock expresses respect.

Cassock-alb: A more modern variation of the alb, this has become the de facto standard Eucharistic garment for many, if not Episcopal, Lutheran and Roman Catholic clergy.  A combination of the amice and alb, it is worn in place of cassock and surplice or amice, alb, and cincture.  It is normally white and should be long enough to cover the ankles.  A cincture around the waist should be worn with this vestment, although it is not essential.  A surplice is not worn over the cassock-alb, but a tunic may be.

Chasuble: From the Latin casula ("little house"), and is derived in design from a worker's cloak.  A chasuble is a type of vestment worn by the celebrant during Communion.  It is a long, wide sleeveless vestment, poncho-like, usually oval when laid out flat, with an opening in the center to accommodate the celebrant's head.  It is of the liturgical color of the day or season and usually worn over all other vestments.

Chimere: A long, sleeveless coat-like vestment worn by a bishop.  Usually black, though sometimes scarlet.

Cincture: A rope, usually white, worn with the alb or cassock-alb, tied with a slip knot at the right side of the waist and allowed to hang down the right side.  The ends of the rope may have either knots or tassels.  This rope is sometimes called a girdle.

Colors: Color plays an import part in the designation of seasons and feasts in the Episcopal Church.  Each church season has a color associated with it, and both vestments and altar cloths usually mirror the seasonal/festive color.

Collar, clerical: A stiff round shirt collar worn by Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Orthodox, and some Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and other clergy.  It is widely regarded as a sign or identifying mark of clerical status.

Cope: A long cape, worn over the shoulders by the celebrant and others at various liturgies (processions, the Burial of the Dead, etc.), or by a bishop.  It is usually of the liturgical color of the day or season, has a clasp at the chest and is worn over alb and stole or over cassock and surplice.

Cotta: From Middle English meaning, "to cover."  A cotta is a short, white robe often worn by choir members and acolytes.

Crozier: The bishop's staff (a shepherd's crook) carried in a procession and held when giving the absolution or blessing.  Also known as the Pastoral Staff.

Crucifix: From the Latin crux ("cross").  A crucifix is a cross bearing the likeness of the body of Christ on it.

Dalmatic: Similar to the tunic and worn by the deacon.

Maniple: A band of fabric, matching other vestments, used as a liturgical napkin.  The maniple is worn draped over the celebrant's arm.  Not used much any more.

Mitre: The tall, pointed liturgical hat worn by a bishop during formal worship.  Its shape is said to be symbolic of the tongues of fire, which rested on the original bishops at the first Pentecost.

Orphery: An embroidered band on an ecclesiastical vestment or hanging.

Pectoral Cross: Jeweled cross worn by a bishop to indicate his office.

Rochet: A bishop's full-length white vestment similar to a surplice with full, gathered sleeves, and usually worn under a chimere.

Stole: A long strip of cloth (often silk) worn around the neck and allowed to hang down the front of the clerical vestments, over the alb or surplice.  Only bishops, priests and deacons are allowed to wear stoles, which are of the liturgical color of the day or season. 
The priest wears the stole around the neck and hanging down in front (either crossed or straight).  The deacon wears the stole over the left shoulder and crossed under the right arm, again either over an alb or surplice.  The stole is usually worn at all Eucharistic services, weddings and funerals, but never worn at Morning Prayer services.  The stole is said to represent the yoke of obedience to Christ.

Surplice: A white over-garment with broad sleeves, worn over other vestments (usually a cassock).  The surplice and cassock are the traditional garments of the Anglican Church.  It is somewhat longer and fuller than a cotta.

Tippet: Black scarf worn by clergy during some services other than the Eucharist.

Tunic: Also known as a tunicle.  A vestment with ample sleeves worn over an alb or cassock-alb of the same liturgical color as the vestments of the celebrant or some other festive color.  This vestment is usually worn by the subdeacon, and may be worn by the crucifer on festive occasions.