hairshirt
noun

- (fig.) self-imposed punishment, suffering, sacrifice, or penance

- a garment of coarse haircloth, worn next to the skin as a penance by ascetics and penitents

(Random House Dictionary)

hair-shirt
adjective

- self-sacrificing, austere

(The Free Dictionary)

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A hairshirt is a coarse garment that is designed to be worn next to the skin to keep the wearer in a state of discomfort and constant awareness of the shirt's presence. They were traditionally worn by some Christian religious orders, along with individuals who felt guilty about certain actions or their lifestyles. The use of hairshirts is fairly limited in the modern era, but the term is often used metaphorically to describe a self-imposed punishment or to denote something that is irritating in a figurative sense.

Hairshirts were originally known as cilices, a reference to the Latin word cilicium, meaning "covering made from goat's hair." Early hairshirts were made from sackcloth or coarse animal hair so that they irritated the skin. Later versions integrated other uncomfortable features such as thin wires or twigs. Several characters in the Bible wore hairshirts as demonstrations of religious faith, and the practice was picked up by devout members of society and churches. The term "cilice" is now used more generally for any object worn to increase discomfort.

(adapted from Wisegeek.com)

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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation

"Will you wear a hairshirt if you fail?"

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Thanks to Thomas for suggesting today's word!