hair-shirt
A shirt made of haircloth, worn by ascetics and penitents. (Cf. haire.)
| 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. i. i. 165 No prelate's lawn, with hair shirt lin'd, Is half so incoherent as my mind. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 213 After her death..a hair-shirt was found on her. |
| fig. 1884 Pall Mall G. 16 Oct. 1/1 If he had chafed less passionately at the hair-shirt of existence. |