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sanbenito

noun san·be·ni·to \ ˌsan-bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō , ˌsam- \

Definition of sanbenito

plural sanbenitos
1 : a sackcloth coat worn by penitents on being reconciled to the church
2 : a Spanish Inquisition garment resembling a scapular and being either yellow with red crosses for the penitent or black with painted devils and flames for the impenitent condemned to an auto-da-fé

Origin and Etymology of sanbenito

Spanish sambenito, from San Benito St. Benedict of Nursia

San Benito

geographical name San Be·ni·to \ ˌsan-bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō \

Definition of San Benito

city in southernmost Texas northwest of Brownsville population 24,250

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