Overcoat
/ˈoʊ.vɚ.koʊt/noun
A long, warm coat worn over other clothing, especially outdoors.
Did you know?The prefix over- traces back to the same ancient Indo-European root as Greek hyper- and Latin super-, linking everyday clothing to words meaning “above” or “beyond.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*uper
“Above, over, or beyond”
Old English
Old English
ofer
“Over, above, across, or beyond”
Old French
Old French
cote
“A tunic or outer garment”
Middle English
Middle English
over
“Above or covering from above”
14th Century
English
coat
“An outer garment or covering, borrowed through Old French”
Early 19th Century
English
overcoat
“A coat worn over other clothes”
Modern English
English
overcoat
“A long outer coat for warmth or protection”