hitatare; ancient ceremonial court robe
Historical term for a type of robe worn by court nobles and samurai from the Heian period onward, often used in formal ceremonies.
I saw a reproduction of a Heian-period hitatare at the museum.
The hitatare was originally commoner's clothing, but later became formal wear for samurai.
The reading ひたたれ is of uncertain origin. The kanji 直垂 literally mean 'straight' and 'drape', likely describing the garment's cut or how it hangs.