1. A loose outer garment, extending from the neck downwards, and commonly without sleeves. It is longer than a cape, and is worn both by men and by women.
2. That which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a fair pretense; a mask; a cover. No man is esteemed any ways considerable for policy who wears religion otherwise than as a cloak. South. Cloak bag, a bag in which a cloak or other clothes are carried; a portmanteau. Shak.
CLOAK
Cloak, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cloaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Cloaking.]
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a cloak; hence, to hide or conceal.
Now glooming sadly, so to cloak her matter. Spenser.
Syn.
— See Palliate.
CLOAKEDLY
Cloak"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concealed manner.
CLOAKING
Cloak"ing, n.
1. The act of covering with a cloak; the act of concealing anything. To take heed of their dissembings and cloakings. Strype.
2. The material of which of which cloaks are made.