Clōth, n.

(21), n. [A-S. clāð, cloth, garment, O. Fries. klāth, D. kleed, Icel. klæði, Dan. & Sw. klæde, cloth, M. H. Ger. kleit, N. H. Ger. kleid, garment, dress. The plural is regular, cloths; but when it signifies garments, it is written clothes.]

1. A woven fabric, of fibrous material, used for garments or other purposes.
2. A piece of such a fabric appropriated to some particular use; as, a cloth of state. Hayward.
3. The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See CLOTHES.

I'll ne'er distrust my God for cloth and bread. Quarles. 4. A profession, or the members of it, especially the clerical profession. The cloth, the clergy, are constituted for administering, and for giving the best possible effect to . . . every axiom. I. Taylor. Strong appeals were made to the priesthood. Would they tamely permit so gross an insult to be offered to their cloth? Macaulay.