happi-coat
(ˈhæpɪkəʊt)
Also happy-, (ellipt.) happi.
[Jap. happi a kind of coat.]
A Japanese loose outer coat of various materials; a similar fashion garment.
| 1880 Trans. Asiatic Soc. Japan VIII. 344 Young men often wore a red Happi with large sleeves. 1890 B. H. Chamberlain Things Japanese 94 But jinrikisha-men wear the happi. 1931 E. V. Gatenby in Studies Eng. Lit. (Tokyo) XI. Oct. 515 Happi-coat, often misspelt ‘happy’ coat. 1933 ‘R. Crompton’ William—the Rebel vi. 121 ‘Go and put on my happi coat, William,’ she said. 1948 M. Allingham More Work for Undertaker (1949) vi. 70 She wore a gay little happi-coat. 1970 J. Kirkup Japan behind Fan 127 Here there was a crowd of men in happi coats. 1971 Daily Tel. 1 Nov. 11/1 They want to trot around in tuxedo trouser outfits, Japanese happi coats, or pedal-pusher pants. 1971 Catal. Exhib. C. Beaton's Fashion (V. & A. Mus.) 54/1 A beige suede ‘happi coat’..worn with tapering suede trousers. |