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shell jacket

American  

noun

  1. a close-fitting, semiformal jacket, with a short back, worn in the tropics in place of a tuxedo.


shell jacket British  

noun

  1. an army officer's waist-length mess jacket

"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

Etymology

Origin of shell jacket

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lastly, a waterproof, breathable shell jacket will keep you dry and block any wind.

From Seattle Times

“My clothing system changed depending on the location, but I always had an insulated jacket and a rain shell jacket and rain pants,” Kleedehn said of her hiking threads while in Washington.

From Seattle Times

“This is Black Beach,” offered the man, practically dressed in high wading boots, shell jacket and heavy briar-repelling gloves.

From New York Times

“If you use a shell jacket like the one I have, they keep you dry, but they don’t keep you warm, so it’s very important to have a sweater under it,” he says.

From The Guardian

Dressed in a baggy blue shell jacket and pants, she crumbled and rose from the pavement with a spooky pliancy as Strength NIA’s “Northern Ireland Yes” played.

From New York Times