Gown

Gown, a long, loose outer garment, worn by clergymen, members of universities, judges, and others. The ecclesiastical gown was originally intended for out-of-door use, but came to be used by preachers when addressing large congregations. The "Geneva gown," which resembles the academic, was introduced by the Geneva reformers, and continued in use amongst the Puritans and the Evangelical clergy. It is now rarely seen in the Anglican Church, but is still worn by Presbyterian and other Dissenting ministers. The purple gown is a distinctive mark of rectors of universities. In

Great Britain the faculty, as well as the university, of a graduate is now denoted by his hood. The members of the older English universities now have black gowns, for which a surplice is substituted in college chapel on Sundays and saints' days by those on the foundation. The academic gown is worn in the pulpit by university preachers.