Jupon

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒu.pɒn/

Definitions

1. A type of short coat or undergarment worn in historical fashion, typically displaying elaborate designs or embroidery
2. An undergarment historically worn beneath a doublet, often padded for warmth and shape in medieval clothing
3. A garment worn under outer clothing, often seen in historical contexts and contributing to the overall silhouette of the wearer

Etymology: The garment that "jupon" names is an old one, and its name has a surprising relative: "żupan," the Polish word for a long, belted coat or tunic. The two words are doublets, meaning they descend from a common ancestor and reached English and Polish by separate routes. Their shared ancestry points to a garment that travelled widely across medieval Europe before settling into the vocabulary of different languages. In English the word came from Middle French "jupon," which passed into Middle English as "jupoun" and "jupon." Medieval jupons were fitted, padded or quilted garments worn under armour or under a surcoat, and the same term covered an armoured version worn by knights. Over time the garment's use as a layer beneath a mail or plate harness gave it a lasting place in descriptions of chivalric dress.