clad

This term carries a heavy sense of protection or formal enclosure. It suggests a deliberate, often heavy covering rather than just wearing a garment. It is frequently used in architecture and engineering to describe a protective outer layer, such as a building clad in zinc or a reactor clad in zirconium. In a literary or archaic sense, it evokes a vivid image of specific attire, often used to describe knights or royalty. It feels more static and descriptive than the word dress, focusing on the state of being covered rather than the act of putting clothes on.