surcoat
(ˈsɜːkəʊt)
Forms: 4 surkot, (sorcot), 4–7 (9) surcote, 5 surkote, -cotte, (ser-, syrcote, 5–6 circot(e, 6 circotte, erron. surcourt), 7 surcoate, 8 -koat, 7– surcoat.
[a. OF. sur-, sor-, sour-, sircot (also -cote): see sur- and coat n. Cf. Pr. sobrecot, It sopraccotta, sorcotto.
MLG., MSw. sorcot, MDu. sorcote, ONorw., MHG. surkot, med.L. sor-, surcotium are from Fr.]
1. An outer coat or garment, commonly of rich material, worn by people of rank of both sexes; often worn by armed men over their armour, and having the heraldic arms depicted on it.
As part of the insignia of orders, etc., the surcoat is now a short sleeveless garment of crimson velvet worn with a mantle.
| a 1330 Syr Degarre 791 He hadde on a sorcot ouert, I-forred with blaundeuer apert. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 62 His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe was forred. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 617 A long surcote of pers vpon he hade. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3252 A duches dereworthily dyghte..In a surcott of sylke fulle selkouthely hewede. 1457 Cov. Leet Bk. 299, & there folowed then mony moo ladyes yn her mantels, surcotes & other appareyll to theyre astates acustumed. 1494 in Househ. Ord. (1790) 120 On New-Yeares day, the King ought to weare his kirtle, his circote, and his pane of armes. 1562 Legh Armory (1597) 96 Gentlewomen vnder the degree of a countesse, haue armes on Taberts, but the countesse and so vpwards shal haue their Armes in surcotes and mantels. 1603 Drayton Bar. Wars ii. xxiii, Upon his Surcote, valiant Nevil bore A Silver Saltoyre. 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 110 The hole Colledge of Heralds mounted on horse⁓back, in their rich Surcoats. 1805 Southey Madoc. i. xv, Embroider'd surcoats and emblazon'd shields. 1845 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. v. ix. III. 263 They were all in light armour, with red surcoats. 1885 C. W. C. Oman Art of War 42 The colour of bannerole, crest, and surcoat was that of the regimental standard. 1911 Beerbohm Zuleika Dobson iii. 32 The heavy mantle of blue velvet,..the crimson surcoat [of the Garter]. |
| attrib. a 1400 Octouian 1180 Sche..yn hys ryght hond left..Her surkot sleue. |
2. An undershirt, vest, semmit. Sc.
Perh. associated with sarkit, ‘a kind of short shirt, or blouse’ (Banffsh. Gloss. 1866).
| 1768 Song in Ross Helenore 132 A surkoat hough side [i.e. reaching to the thigh]. |