pea jacket

American  

noun

1. a short coat of thick wool, usually double-breasted and navy in color, worn by seamen, fishermen, etc.

2. a jacket or short coat styled like this, worn by adults and children.

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pea jacket British  

/ ˈpiːˌkəʊt /

noun

1. a sailor's short heavy double-breasted overcoat of navy wool

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Etymology

Origin of pea jacket

1715–25, pea, variant spelling of pay, pee, pie coat of coarse woolen cloth ( late Middle English pee, pey, pie; akin to Dutch pij, dialectal Frisian pey, dialectal Swedish paje ) + jacket; perhaps modeled on Frisian (N dial.) pijekkat

Example Sentences

The exhibit also includes Notorious B.I.G.’s red leather pea jacket, worn in the music video for Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Players Anthem,” and LL Cool J’s red Kangol bucket hat.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2023

She would have looked ravishing in a cheongsam under a pea jacket or a long black coat lined with Asian flower silk.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2010

For slightly more, a girl can pick up a striking Indian-kid coat that is shaped like a sailor's pea jacket, or an imitation-cheetah walking suit made of calfskin.

From Time Magazine Archive

In his Navy pea jacket and worn brown boots, carrying a tattered folder crammed with names, Jordan loped down the Senate halls, looking like the country boy he tries hard to remain.

From Time Magazine Archive

Darlene took off her pea jacket and showed the manager the tiny rings attached to the side of her slacks and blouse with safety pins.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole