monkey jacket

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noun

a short, close-fitting jacket or coat, formerly worn by sailors.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of monkey jacket

First recorded in 1820–30; so called from its resemblance to a jacket worn by an organ-grinder's monkey

Words nearby monkey jacket

monkey-faced owl, monkey flower, monkey flush, monkeygland sauce, monkey island, monkey jacket, monkey nut, monkey on one's back, monkey orchid, monkeypod, monkeypot

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use monkey jacket in a sentence

Be on hand, my young monkey jacket; I should hate to be turned out so early for nothing.
Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812|James Barnes
Soon a monkey-jacket mounted the side, and was beset by the captain and cabin people for news.
Redburn. His First Voyage|Herman Melville
Pete was still in his stocking cap and Wellington boots, but he had a monkey-jacket over his blue guernsey.
The Manxman|Hall Caine
The last monkey-jacket I had from you a week ago I am returning for alteration.
Pincher Martin, O.D.|H. Taprell Dorling

The fellow took a firm grip of my monkey-jacket, and I made for the door.
The Wreck of the Grosvenor, Volume 1 of 3|William Clark Russell

British Dictionary definitions for monkey jacket

monkey jacket

noun

a short close-fitting jacket, esp a waist-length jacket similar to a mess jacket

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012