coat
/koʊt/
noun
Origin
Old French
cote — tunic, gown, or covering
Overview
Meaning Now
- An outer garment with sleeves, worn for warmth or fashion.
- A single layer of a substance, such as paint or varnish, applied to a surface.
- The natural fur or hair covering of an animal.
Literal older meaning
A covering or outer layer.
Language path
Middle English → Old French → Latin
Earliest form
cote
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word transitioned from describing a specific under-garment or tunic in the Middle Ages to representing various types of protective outer layers, reflecting the evolution of clothing complexity and the metaphorical use of 'covering' for substances and fur.
Evolution
- Vulgar Latin
cotta
“tunic or garment”
- Old French
cote
“a tunic or gown”
- Middle English
cote
“an outer garment”
Early use often referred to a specific type of tunic.
- Modern English
coat
“outerwear, layer of paint, or animal fur”
Semantic extension to non-garment layers.
Connections
Word parts
coat
root
covering
Related across languages
French
cote
tunic (archaic/dialectal)
Explore next
Related to coat
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.