Maniple

(Lat. manipulum). Doubtless this was, nothing more than a strip of the finest linen, attached to the left arm of the priest by a loop, with which to wipe the chalice previous to the first oblation, that is, at the offertory. Soon, however, it began to be enriched with embroidery, like the stole, and finally became merely an ornament worn by the priest and his assistants, just above the left wrist, at the celebration of the eucharist. It is now of the same width and color as the stole and the vestment or chasuble, fringed at the ends, and generally about a yard and a quarter in length. It has been kept up in the English Church ever since the alterations in the 16th century, ordinarily in the shape of a napkin folded like a band, for use at the eucharist; and at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, at Durham and Westminster, some of the ancient maniples can still be seen which have been occasionally worn.