Also 4 ephoth. [Heb. ēphōd, f. āphad to put on.]
1. A Jewish priestly vestment, without sleeves, slit at the sides below the armpits, fastened with buckles at the shoulders, and by a girdle at the waist. The high-priest’s ephod was of ‘gold, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen (byssus)’; that worn by others was of linen.
1382. Wyclif, Ex. xxv. 7. Gemmes to anowrn ephoth, that is, a preestis ouermest clothing, that we cleepen a coope.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. vi. 14. Dauid was girded with a linnen Ephod.
1770. Chatterton, Happiness. The bloody son of Jesse … made himself an ephod to his mind.
1856. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., iv. (1858), 205, note. ‘Bring hither the Ephod,’ the priestly cape, dressed in which the High-priest delivered the oracle.
2. transf. A typical priestly garment; † hence used symbolically for ‘the priestly office,’ ‘clerical influence.’
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, IV. lii. 93 (R.). The holy Ephod made a cloke for gaine.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. v. (1739), 13. What the Ephod could not, the Sword wrapt up therein should.
1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 44. Many a good dinner did Charles Honeyman lose by assuming that unlucky ephod [i.e., wearing the surplice in the pulpit].
