Caracalla
A Gaulish outer garment resembling the Roman
lacerna (q. v.), and
first introduced at Rome by the emperor Aurelius Antoninus Bassianus, who compelled all
plebeians who came to court to wear it, and hence received the name Caracalla, by which he is
best known in history (Aurel. Vict.
Epit. 21). In its longer form it came in later times to be worn by the
clergy under the name of cassock (
sottana, soutane). Like the
lacerna, it was furnished with a cowl or hood (
cucullus).