The Collaborative International Dictionary
Coat \Coat\ (k[=o]t; 110), 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.]
-
An outer garment fitting the upper part of the body; especially, such a garment worn by men.
Let each His adamantine coat gird well.
--Milton. A petticoat. [Obs.] ``A child in coats.''
--Locke.-
The habit or vesture of an order of men, indicating the order or office; cloth.
Men of his coat should be minding their prayers.
--Swift.She was sought by spirits of richest coat.
--Shak. -
An external covering like a garment, as fur, skin, wool, husk, or bark; as, the horses coats were sleek.
Fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk, or shell.
--Milton. 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.
-
Same as Coat of arms. See below.
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, Or tear the lions out of England's coat.
--Shak. -
A coat card. See below. [Obs.]
Here's a trick of discarded cards of us! We were ranked with coats as long as old master lived.
--Massinger.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.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) A canvas cover laced over furled sails etc. to keep them dry and clean.