waistcoat

American  

[wes-kuht, weyst-koht] / ˈwɛs kət, ˈweɪstˌkoʊt /

noun

1. Chiefly British. vest.

2. an 18th-century garment for women that is similar to a man's vest, usually worn with a riding habit.

3. a man's body garment, often quilted and embroidered and having sleeves, worn under the doublet in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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waistcoat British  

/ ˈweɪsˌkəʊt /

noun

1. US, Canadian, and Austral name: vest.  a sleeveless waist-length garment with buttons at the front, often worn under a suit jacket

2. a man's garment worn under a doublet in the 16th century

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Other Word Forms

• underwaistcoat noun
• waistcoated adjective

Etymology

Origin of waistcoat

First recorded in 1510–20; waist + coat

Example Sentences

Finally, he straightened up, tugging at the hem of his waistcoat as he stepped toward the door.

From Literature

The composer Carl Friedrich Abel, a beloved friend of the artist, is shown in a shimmering gold waistcoat that reveals nothing of his financial troubles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Piping on the waistcoat is “a kick” to stand out against judges in black.

From Los Angeles Times

"There was Stewart tartan everywhere, the waistcoats, kilts and the dresses."

From BBC

His red coat with black trim, red waistcoat with hand-stitched buttonholes and gold regimental buttons, and white breeches “represent the only complete uniform of the Revolutionary war.”

From The Wall Street Journal