n. (pl. cloths) 1 woven or felted material. 2 a piece of this. 3 a piece of cloth for a particular purpose; a tablecloth, dishcloth, etc. 4 woollen woven fabric as used for clothes. 5 a profession or status, esp. of the clergy, as shown by clothes (respect due to his cloth). b (prec. by the) the clergy. cloth-cap relating to or associated with the working class. cloth-eared colloq. somewhat deaf. cloth of gold (or silver) tissue of gold (or silver) threads interwoven with silk or wool.
[ OE clath, of unkn. orig. ]