ˈgrey-coat
One who wears grey clothing; spec. a Cumberland yeoman (see quots. 1837–66).
| 1644 Vicars God in Mount 200 A part of Colonell Ballards Grey-coats..did most singular good service all this fight. 1675 Hodge's Vis. for Monument (1703) 128 in Marvell's Wks. (Grosart) I. 439 We'll part..The spruce brib'd monsieurs from the true grey coats. 1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 223/2 They..wore kelt cloth, which was of a grey colour..and hence the name of grey-coats which the Cumbrians received. 1866 Reader 20 Oct. 874 Many of the Cumberland yeomen still wear a plain home-spun grey cloth, hence their name of grey cootes. |
b. attrib.: Grey-coat Hospital, a charity school, where the scholars were clothed in grey; grey-coat parson (see quot. a 1825, and next word).
| 1719 D'Urfey Pills III. 46 To Free-school..My gray-coat Gransir put him. 1766 Entick London IV. 411 In Tothill⁓side is the Grey coat-hospital. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Grey coat parson, an impropriator; or, the tenant who hires the tithes. |