Surcoat

Quick meaning: Surcoat is a noun meaning (historical) A loose sleeveless garment worn over a suit of armor, sometimes colored or embroidered with the wearer's coat of arms.

Meaning

(historical) A loose sleeveless garment worn over a suit of armor, sometimes colored or embroidered with the wearer's coat of arms.

More Meanings

1. (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.

Example Sentences

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

She wore a short surcoat of scarlet, cut low around the shoulders, sleeveless, reaching just below her hips, like the tabards worn by medieval heralds. Over it she wore a laced-edged cotta.

The ordered system of symbols which we know as heraldry came into being in the twelfth century to meet a military need. These symbols were emblazoned on shields, surcoats and fighting flags, and served as an invaluable means of identification when the features were obscured by the great helm.

Word Forms

• surcoats

Synonyms for surcoat

Depending on context, synonyms include overcoat, greatcoat, topcoat.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include overcoat, greatcoat, topcoat, sideless, emblazoned, waistcoat.

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