coat

n. [ OF. cote, F. cotte, petticoat, cotte d'armes coat of arms, cotte de mailles coat of mail, LL. cota, cotta, tunic, prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. chozzo coarse mantle, G. klotze, D. kot, hut, E. cot. Cf. Cot a hut. ] 1. An outer garment fitting the upper part of the body; especially, such a garment worn by men. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let each
His adamantine coat gird well. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A petticoat. [ Obs. ] “A child in coats.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The habit or vesture of an order of men, indicating the order or office; cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men of his coat should be minding their prayers. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

She was sought by spirits of richest coat. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An external covering like a garment, as fur, skin, wool, husk, or bark; as, the horses coats were sleek. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk, or shell. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A layer of any substance covering another; a cover; a tegument; as, the coats of the eye; the coats of an onion; a coat of tar or varnish. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Same as Coat of arms. See below. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A coat card. See below. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Here's a trick of discarded cards of us! We were ranked with coats as long as old master lived. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

Coat armor. See under Armor. --
Coat of arms (Her.), a translation of the French cotte d'armes, a garment of light material worn over the armor in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was often charged with the heraldic bearings of the wearer. Hence, an heraldic achievement; the bearings of any person, taken together. --
Coat card, a card bearing a coated figure; the king, queen, or knave of playing cards. “‘I am a coat card indeed.' ‘Then thou must needs be a knave, for thou art neither king nor queen.'” Rowley. --
Coat link, a pair of buttons or studs joined by a link, to hold together the lappels of a double-breasted coat; or a button with a loop for a single-breasted coat. --
Coat of mail, a defensive garment of chain mail. See Chain mail, under Chain. --
Mast coat (Naut.), a piece of canvas nailed around a mast, where it passes through the deck, to prevent water from getting below. --
Sail coat (Naut.), a canvas cover laced over furled sails, and the like, to keep them dry and clean. [ 1913 Webster ]