Overclothes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Garments worn over normal clothing for extra protection or warmth; outer layers designed to shield usual attire from dirt or weather; attire meant to be put on over regular clothes as a final outer covering
2. Clothing items meant to be donned above standard apparel to add an additional barrier against elements; outerwear used to guard underlying garments from damage; protective or decorative layers worn on top of everyday attire
3. Outer garments intended to be layered over other clothes to provide insulation or prevent soiling; supplementary clothing designed to cover regular clothes; external wear that acts as a shield for interior apparel against environmental factors

Etymology: "Overclothes" is a plain compound: "over-" (meaning above or outside) joined to "clothes," the plural of "cloth" in its older sense of garments. The "over-" prefix has long been used in English to mean something worn or placed on top of something else, as in "overcoat" or "overshoe," and "overclothes" follows that pattern exactly. The word describes the layer that goes over ordinary dress, so the meaning rests on the literal sense of the two parts rather than on any shift from an earlier use.

Synonyms: outerwear, coat, jacket, overcoat, cloak