Crossword clues for surcoat
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Surcoat \Sur"coat`\, n. [OE. surcote, OF. surcote. See Sur-, and Coat, and cf. Overcoat.]
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A coat worn over the other garments; especially, the long and flowing garment of knights, worn over the armor, and frequently emblazoned with the arms of the wearer.
A long surcoat of pers upon he had..
--Chaucer.At night, or in the rain, He dons a surcoat which he doffs at morn.
--Emerson. A name given to the outer garment of either sex at different epochs of the Middle Ages.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. A loose garment without sleeves worn over a suit of armor, sometimes colored or embroidered with the wearer's coat of arms
WordNet
n. a loose outer coat usually of rich material
a tunic worn over a knight's armor
Wikipedia
A surcoat initially was an outer garment commonly worn in the Middle Ages by both men and women. It can either refer to a coat worn over other clothes or the outermost garment itself. The name derives from French meaning "over the coat", a long, loose, often sleeveless coat reaching down to the feet.
From about the 12th century, knights wore over their armour long, flowing surcoats - frequently emblazoned with their personal arms - that usually extended to about midcalf, had slits in the bottom front and back, thus allowing the wearer to ride comfortably and were either sleeved or sleeveless. Historians believe that the practice of wearing white ones was adopted during the Crusades, their main purpose of reflecting the direct sun, which overheated it (and the soldier inside); while in poor weather they helped keep rain and the muck of battle away from the easily corroded mail links; although it may be argued that here its color would have been of little help. The surcoat displayed the device of the knight (origin of the term " coat of arms") thus identifying him; which in turn, combined with the increased use of the great helm (late 12th century, early 13th century) became an essential means of recognition. Indeed, some historians cite this as one of the reasons behind the spread of heraldry across medieval Europe. During the 13th century, knights began to add plates of armour to their surcoats, that subsequently became the medieval coat of plates. In the early fourteenth century, the front of the knight's surcoat was shortened, so that it was longer at the back, knee-length at the front; thus allowing greater freedom of movement, and eliminating the danger of a rider getting his spurs caught in the garment. By the mid-fourteenth century it was replaced with the "jupon" (or "gipon"), a much shorter item, often padded for supplementary protection.
In the 15th century, once suits of plate armour became common, the surcoat was phased out of use. The period in the history of armour development, in which surcoats became increasingly rare, is referred to as the "surcoatless period" (1420-1485).
Usage examples of "surcoat".
Jumping out of bed, Alec stalked to the wardrobe and inspected the surcoats hanging there.
Still others lolled at ease, their surcoats unlaced, passing the dregs of broached spirits between them.
The men were heavily armored and bore the enflamed white cross moline fitchy of the outlawed Order of Saint Michael on their surcoats of Michaeline blue.
Over the haubergeon he wore a full-length surcoat that showed his badge of the red heart.
With Nick and Lys, he flattened himself against one wall of the alley as horsemen in yellow surcoats fought hooded footmen in the teeming rain-a vicious, close-quarters combat pent up between the stone buildings that fronted the alley.
His stately figure, almost as tall and stout as that of King Edward, was always clad with some mark of the warrior, in polished steel inlaid with gold, sometimes as a placcard, sometimes as a cuirass which sparkled beneath a surcoat.
She was dressed modestly in a plain, dark blue housedress with a sideless surcoat of dark red, but her elegance confused Anne.
The old woman shivered, wrapping her sideless surcoat tighter around her ribs.
Here and there among the moving throng of dark jerkins and of white surcoats were scattered dashes of scarlet and blue, the whimples or shawls of the women.
Across the chamber, stripped of his state collar and muffled under the half-shucked folds of the alizarin and gold ducal surcoat, Bransian launched into interrogation.
Morian listened silently, already armed and ready, the roundels and martlet on his green surcoat gleaming in the early morning light.
Sufficient that the Lord of Belec wore the small iron key in plain sight against the murrey brown cloth of his surcoat.
Still clutching his sword, Kluge staggered out of the great hall, hacking and slashing at the mailed men in red surcoats, who had made short work of his punker vanguard and now were slowly gaining the edge on his black knights as well.
It flickered in a warm amber radiance over scarred faces, frayed black surcoats with their white quatrefoil emblem, and seedy old blankets making shift as cloaks.
I started it in early summer, hired half the seamers in Vorgensburg to make surcoats and banners, but I never dreamed I would need them so soon.