Hair shirt

/hˈeə ʃˈɜːt/

/hˈɛɹ ʃˈɜːt/

[noun]

Hair shirt

[NOUN]

something extremely hard that one goes through, often as a punishment

What is the origin of the idiom "hair shirt" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "hair shirt" can be traced back to religious practices and traditions that date back centuries. The practice of wearing a hair shirt as a form of penance or self-mortification was prevalent in various religious orders, particularly in medieval Christianity. The use of a hair shirt was seen as a way to demonstrate humility, repentance, and spiritual discipline.

an uncomfortable shirt made of coarse animal hair; worn next to the skin as a penance

Examples

1. Animal fur is no joke, and hair shirts were quite heavy.

2. The monks, who were busy wearing hair shirts and prostrating themselves, did occasionally have fun.

3. That did surprise me a little, is how joyful they were in saying like, oh, it's not time to don the hair shirt and say, we've done wrong.

Nearby words