What does reclad mean?
Reclad means to clothe someone again or to put a new covering on something. It is especially associated with performers, athletes, or models changing into different clothing before appearing again, as in a description of an actor being “reclad in period costume.” The word can also apply to protective coverings, such as when an object exposed to the weather is re-covered. Its form combines the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with clad, meaning “clothed” or “covered.” Reclad is uncommon compared with the plainer redress or the more specific verb reclothe, but it conveys the idea neatly and carries a slightly literary or descriptive tone. It is the past tense and past participle of the verb, while recladding is the corresponding gerund or noun form.
verbTo clothe someone again, especially in different clothing. It can also mean to cover or clad something anew.
- To put clothing on someone or something again.
- To cover or clad something anew.
"The performers changed costumes and were reclad before the second act."
"The actors were reclad in period costumes for the second scene."
"After the rain, the outdoor displays were reclad with waterproof covers."
Reclad is to clothe again: a compact word for changing into a fresh outfit before taking the stage again.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reclad come from?
Reclad was formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with clad, a form related to clothe. Clad ultimately derives from an Old English verb meaning to clothe, whose language ancestors also gave rise to words such as clothes and clothing. The prefixed form has been used since the 17th century for clothing or covering something again.
Related word forms
How reclad is actually used
The word is relatively uncommon and literary in tone. It is often written with a hyphen, as “re-clad,” although “reclad” is also standard. In the sense of dressing again, it normally takes a direct object.
Easily confused with reclad
Reclad means to clothe or cover again, whereas reclined means to lean back or rest in a reclining position.