What is "parament"

Parament \Par"a*ment\, n. [Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare.] Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [Obs.]

Lords in paraments on their coursers.
--Chaucer.

Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch.

n. 1 (context now historical English) A type of elaborate robe especially as worn by someone in power or a religious official. 2 A liturgical hanging on and around the altar, as well as the cloth hanging from the pulpit and lectern. 3 A hanging or ornament of a room of state.

A Parament or Parement; (from Late Latin paramentum, adornment, parare, to prepare, equip), a term applied by ancient writers to the hangings or ornaments of a room of state. Later it has referred to the liturgical hangings on and around the altar, as well as the cloths hanging from the pulpit and lectern, as well as the ecclesiastical vestments and mitres. In many usages, it is synonymous with altar cloth.

In most Christian churches using paraments (including Roman Catholic and a wide variety of Protestant denominations), the liturgical paraments change in color depending on the season of the church year. Advent = purple (or in some traditions, blue); Christmas = white; Lent = purple; Easter = white; Pentecost = red; "Common time" = green