gremial

From Latin gremium (“lap, bosom”) + -al.

gremial (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to the lap.

gremial (plural gremials)

1. A decorated cloth placed on a bishop's lap whilst celebrating mass or ordaining priests.
2. (obsolete) A bosom friend.
   • 1840, Thomas Fuller, The History of the University of Cambridge

     These Friars living in these convents were capable of degrees, and kept their Acts, as other University-men. Yet were they gremials and not gremials, who sometimes would so stand on the tiptoes of their privileges, that they endeavoured to be higher than other students: so that oftentimes they and the scholars could not set their horses in one stable, or rather their books on one shelf.

• Gmailer, lamiger

From gremio +‎ -al.

gremial (plural gremiales)

1. labor union (attributive)