First Known Use: circa 1560
Dictionary
sanbenito
noun san·be·ni·to \ˌsan-bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō, ˌsam-\
plural san·be·ni·tos
Definition of SANBENITO
1
: a sackcloth coat worn by penitents on being reconciled to the church
2
: a Spanish Inquisition garment resembling a scapular and being either yellow with red crosses for the penitent or black with painted devils and flames for the impenitent condemned to an auto-da-fé
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Origin of SANBENITO
Spanish sambenito, from San Benito St. Benedict of Nursia
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