jacket

[jak-it]

noun

1. a short coat, in any of various forms, usually opening down the front.

2. something designed to be placed around the upper part of the body for a specific purpose other than use as clothing.

   a life jacket.

3. a protective outer covering.

4. the skin of a potato, especially when it has been cooked.

5. book jacket.

6. the cover of a paperbound book, usually bearing an illustration.

7. a paper or cardboard envelope for protecting a phonograph record.

8. a metal casing, as the steel covering of a cannon, the steel cover around the core of a bullet, or the water jacket on certain types of machine guns.

9. a folded paper or open envelope containing an official document.

verb (used with object)

1. to put a jacket on (someone or something).

jacket

/ ˈdʒækɪt /

noun

1. a short coat, esp one that is hip-length and has a front opening and sleeves

2. something that resembles this or is designed to be worn around the upper part of the body

   a life jacket

3. any exterior covering or casing, such as the insulating cover of a boiler

4. the part of the cylinder block of an internal-combustion engine that encloses the coolant

5. See dust jacket

6. 1. the skin of a baked potato

   2. ( as modifier )

      jacket potatoes

7. a metal casing used in certain types of ammunition

8. Brit name: sleeve. a cover to protect a gramophone record

9. a folder or envelope to hold documents

verb

1. (tr) to put a jacket on (someone or something)

Other Word Forms

• jacket-like adjective
• jacketed adjective
• jacketless adjective
• jacketlike adjective
• underjacket noun
• unjacketed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jacket¹

1425–75; late Middle English jaket < Middle French ja ( c ) quet, equivalent to jaque jack ⁴ + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of jacket¹

C15: from Old French jaquet short jacket, from jacque peasant, from proper name Jacques James

Example Sentences

It’s the view from the Hancock Building in Chicago, Fonzie’s jacket at the Smithsonian and the Constitution at the National Archives.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

On Saturday mornings, we have two or three guards wearing camo and flak jackets carrying assault rifles.

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The Sweeney Cinched Waist denim jacket sold out in a day, and the Sydney Jean, an ultrawide leg with a butterfly on the back pocket, sold out in a week.

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I’d suggest a light puffy jacket if there’s no rain in the forecast, and pants and thermal leggings to keep the chill off.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A small group of people — a number of them women in their 60s and 70s with gray braids and top-of-the-line rain jackets — have been congregating here for months to protest the federal immigration crackdown.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coat 
• fur 
• parka 
• sheath 
• tunic