oilskin

[oil-skin]

noun

a cotton fabric made waterproof by treatment with oil and used for rain gear and fishermen's clothing.

a piece of this.

Often oilskins, a garment made of this, especially a long, full-cut raincoat or a loose-fitting suit of pants and jacket as worn by sailors for protection against rain.

Origin of oilskin

First recorded in 1805–15; oil + skin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oilskin

Historical Examples of oilskin

It was very tightly rolled in a covering of what appeared to be oilskin.
The Web of the Golden Spider
Frederick Orin Bartlett
A rough blouse and a fisherman's oilskin cap completed the disguise.
Under Wellington's Command
G. A. Henty
He removed his belt from his waist and buckled it outside his oilskin coat.
The Wreck of the Titan
Morgan Robertson
"And I'll take this to square the count," said I, picking up the oilskin packet.
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
"Sure, 'tis a pair of oilskin pants he manes," cried Jimmie.
Motor Boat Boys Mississippi Cruise
Louis Arundel

British Dictionary definitions for oilskin

oilskin

noun

a cotton fabric treated with oil and pigment to make it waterproof
(as modifier)an oilskin hat

(often plural) a protective outer garment of this fabric

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