SuaviloquyToday’s word

garb

Garb, n.

Etymology: [OF. garbe looks, countenance, grace, ornament, fr. OHG. garawi, garwi, ornament, dress. akin to E. gear. See Gear, n.]

1. (a) Clothing in general. (b) The whole dress or suit of clothes worn by any person, especially when indicating rank or office; as, the garb of a clergyman or a judge. (c) Costume; fashion; as, the garb of a gentleman in the 16th century.

2. External appearance, as expressive of the feelings or character; looks; fashion or manner, as of speech. You thought, because he could not speak English in the native garb, he could not therefore handle an English cudgel. Shak.

2 other Webster entries under this spelling

Garb, n.

(Her.)

A sheaf of grain (wheat, unless otherwise specified).

Garb, v. t.

To clothe; array; deck. These black dog-Dons Garb themselves bravely. Tennyson.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for garb; he lists it under dress.

Where he writes about it:

Garb denotes the clothing characteristic of some class, profession, or the like; as, the garb of a priest. — from dress