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

Example Sentences

Still another belt encircled me, and, though I had come up warmly clad in woolen shirts and monkey jacket, I felt these garments being torn away from me.

From The Grain Ship by Robertson, Morgan

Just a blue serge suit, and a monkey jacket.

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

“Yes, sir, and two pair of trousers for thirty shillin’, besides a hoilskin and a serge jumper; and this monkey jacket here, sir, which makes three pun’ seventeen-and-six, sir.”

From Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant by Greene, John B.

Sometimes, however, they only made sport of his appearance; especially one evening, when his monkey jacket being wet through, he was obliged to mount one of his swallow-tailed coats.

From Redburn. His First Voyage by Melville, Herman

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 Austin, Henry