Frockcoat
/ˈfrɒk ˌkəʊt/noun
A long, fitted coat with a waist seam and full skirts, worn especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Did you know?The word is simply a compound of two older clothing terms—there’s no occult root here, but its history lives in the world of formal dress, rank, and ritualized appearance.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
froc
“A monk’s outer garment or a loose outer robe.”
Old French
OF
froc
“A monk’s cowl or habit.”
Germanic
Gmc
*hrokaz
“A rough outer garment; a covering.”
Old English
English
cote
“A coat, tunic, or outer garment.”
Old French
OF
cote
“A tunic or coat.”
Modern English
English
frockcoat
“A formal fitted coat with skirts, especially associated with 19th-century menswear.”