Etymology From Middle English cote, coate, cotte, from Old French cote, cotte (“outer garment with sleeves”), from Latin cotta (“undercoat, tunic”), from Proto-Germanic *kuttô, *kuttǭ (“cowl, woolen cloth, coat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷewd-, *gud- (“woolen clothes”). Cognate with Old High German kozza, kozzo (“woolen coat”) (German Kotze (“coarse woolen blanket; woolen cape”)), Middle Low German kot (“coat”), Middle Dutch cote (“coat”), Ancient Greek βεῦδος (beûdos, “woman's attire”).
It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar.1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01:
Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days.[…]Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
2
A covering of material, such as paint.
fresh coat of paint
Fruit of all kinds, in coat / Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk, or shell.1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
3
The fur or feathers covering an animal's skin.
Near-synonym: pelt
When the dog shed its coat, it left hair all over the furniture and the carpet.
4
Nautical, Transport Canvas painted with thick tar and secured round a mast or bowsprit to prevent water running down the sides into the hold (now made of rubber or leather).
a child in coats1693, [John Locke], “§148”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
6
The habit or vesture of an order of men, indicating the order or office; cloth.
Men of his coat should be minding their prayers.1729, Jonathan Swift, The Grand Question Debated of Hamilton's Bawn:
She was sought by spirits of richest coat.1609, William Shakespeare, A Lover's Compaint:
7
A coat of arms.
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, / Or tear the lions out of England's coat.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:
8
A coat card.
Here's a trick of discarded cards of us! We were ranked with coats as long as old master lived.1656, Thomas Middleton, William Rowley, Philip Massinger, The Old Law:
Etymology From Middle English cote, coate, cotte, from Old French cote, cotte (“outer garment with sleeves”), from Latin cotta (“undercoat, tunic”), from Proto-Germanic *kuttô, *kuttǭ (“cowl, woolen cloth, coat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷewd-, *gud- (“woolen clothes”). Cognate with Old High German kozza, kozzo (“woolen coat”) (German Kotze (“coarse woolen blanket; woolen cape”)), Middle Low German kot (“coat”), Middle Dutch cote (“coat”), Ancient Greek βεῦδος (beûdos, “woman's attire”).
1
To cover with a coating of some material.
The frying pan was coated with a layer of non-stick material, making it easier to wash.
Door grab handles have been coated with an anti-microbial finish.2021 January 13, “Fleet News: Final Avanti West Coast Super Voyager refurbished”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 23: