plain clothes
or plain·clothes
- clothing other than one's uniform, especially civilian clothes worn on duty by a police officer.
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Origin of plain clothes
First recorded in 1815–25
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for plain clothes
Contemporary Examples
Outside at the taxi stand, the men approached and finally identified themselves: They turned out to be plain-clothes police.
Historical Examples
“There are half a dozen plain-clothes men in the audience,” he said.
The Crimson TideRobert W. Chambers
The other two I guessed as plain-clothes men from Vancouver.
The Spoilers of the ValleyRobert Watson
"Well, yes, sir," admitted the plain-clothes man with reluctance.
Steve and the Steam EngineSara Ware Bassett
"It's all right, Sam," said the plain-clothes policeman with a grin.
The Daffodil MysteryEdgar Wallace
It was signed by the chief of the Baltimore plain-clothes force.
The Winning ClueJames Hay, Jr.
plain clothes
- ordinary clothes, as distinguished from uniform, as worn by a police detective on duty
- (as modifier)a plain-clothes policeman
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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
Word Origin and History for plain clothes
n.
"ordinary dress" (as opposed to military uniform), 1822; of police detectives, it is attested from 1842. Also plainclothes.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper