(Great Britain)A Sack cloth coarse brown cloth made of natural fibre and used to make sacks, or constrain bales of loose produce. It is breathable, thus resisting condensation and associated spoilage issues within its contents, and it is strong and durable enough to withstand rough handling in transit. It is also known as hessian or hessian cloth. In America it is known as burlap. Burlap is a densely woven fabric, usually made of jute and allied vegetable fibers. ...

Sack cloth also has a religious context, particularly in regard to penitence; see hairshirt. A hairshirt (see also Cilice)is an uncomfortable shirt worn by some Catholics and, earlier, by Jews as a sign of penance. ...