surcoat

English

Surcoat

A depiction of clothing in 1300s France, showing several surcoats: note the contrasting fabric with the sleeves on the undergowns.

Etymology

From Middle English surcote, from Old French surcote, formed with sur (“over”) and cote (“coat, robe, tunic, overgarment”), respelled based on coat.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜːˌkəʊt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜɹˌkoʊt/

Noun

surcoat (plural surcoats)

1. (historical) A loose garment without sleeves worn over a suit of armor, sometimes colored or embroidered with the wearer's coat of arms.
   • 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 165:

     The Lord mayor and sheriff ride in their armour with surcoats of crimson.

2. (historical) An overgarment worn over a woman's gown; a kind of short robe worn over the tunic at the close of the 11th century.

Translations

garment worn over armor

• Galician: sobresinal m

Anagrams

• actours, cuatros, turacos