Surtouts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Cloaks or outer garments typically worn over formal attire, often characterized by their length and elegance
2. Stylish overcoats designed to provide an additional layer over clothing, commonly used in formal occasions
3. An outerwear garment that combines elements of a coat and cape, often adorned for aesthetic purposes in formal settings

Etymology: "Surtouts" is the plural of "surtout," a noun borrowed from French, where it is built from "sur" ("over") and "tout" ("all"). The French name describes a garment worn over everything else, which fits its role as a long outer layer. English took the word in the sense of a man's close-fitting, double-breasted overcoat, and the term has since come to be applied more loosely to heavy outerwear of this general kind. The plural form "surtouts" simply refers to more than one such garment. Because the word remained a French loan in English, it is often still written in italics or treated as foreign in print.

Synonyms: coats, overcoats