Watchcoats

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Outer garments worn during nighttime duties to provide warmth and protection; garments used to signal vigilance and readiness during a watch period; protective clothing designed for individuals keeping guard or watch
2. Clothing worn by persons assigned to night watch for insulation and safety; apparel indicating alertness during a monitoring task; specialized outerwear for keeping vigilant during timed observation
3. Heavy coats donned by watchkeepers to stay warm while on duty; clothing associated with the role of overseeing a period of guard; attire serving to shield watchmen from harsh conditions during their shift

Etymology: "Watchcoats" is simply the plural of "watchcoat", a compound of "watch" and "coat". The "watch" element refers to the period of duty, the stretch of night when a sailor, soldier or police officer stood guard, and the "coat" was the heavy outer garment worn through those hours to keep off the cold and wet. The name describes the garment by its job rather than by its cut or cloth, so a watchcoat is defined by when and why it was worn.

Synonyms: overcoats, greatcoats, pea coats, jackets, coats