surcoat

[sur-koht]

noun

1. a garment worn over medieval armor, often embroidered with heraldic arms.

2. an outer coat or other outer garment.

surcoat

/ ˈsɜːˌkəʊt /

noun

1. a tunic, often embroidered with heraldic arms, worn by a knight over his armour during the Middle Ages

2. an outer coat or other garment

Word History and Origins

Origin of surcoat¹

1300–50; Middle English surcote < Middle French. See sur- ¹, coat

Example Sentences

They wore brightly colored outer garments called surcoats over their armor.

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They walked arm in arm in matching gold: his on his head, hers on her neck, and soldiers marched behind them, clad in gold surcoats commissioned for the occasion.

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Upon the black surcoats were embroidered in white a tree blossoming like snow beneath a silver crown and many-pointed stars.

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The surcoats, which had originally served as covering to armour, were long behind and high in front You could hardly walk for fear of tripping over your sleeves.

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He liked the big black bear on his surcoat even less.

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Related Words

• blouse 
• coat 
• jacket 
• robe