monkey jacket

American  

noun

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

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monkey jacket British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of monkey jacket

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monkey jacket

‘He’s got on the hat and monkey jacket he always wears.’

From Will Weatherhelm The Yarn of an Old Sailor by Archibald Webb

I produced the roll of lint at once from the pocket of my monkey jacket.

From The Ghost Ship A Mystery of the Sea by Henry Austin

"Be on hand, my young monkey jacket; I should hate to be turned out so early for nothing."

From Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 by James Barnes

Moreover, the single gold stripe on his monkey jacket was still suspiciously new and terribly untarnished.

From Stand By! Naval Sketches and Stories by H. Taprell (Henry Taprell) Dorling

Captain Davy wore a monkey jacket; Mrs. Quiggin colored slightly.

From Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon by Sir Hall Caine

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