Smock-Frock
/ˈsmɒk frɒk/noun
A loose outer garment, especially a workman’s protective coat or a woman’s loose dress.
Did you know?Smock-frock is a compound of two very old Germanic words, and its history shows how clothing terms can preserve social boundaries long after the garment itself fades away.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*smuk-
“to rub, smear, or smooth”
Old English
OE
smoc
“a woman’s shift or undergarment”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*frockō
“a coat or garment”
Middle English
ME
smok(e) frok
“a loose protective outer garment”
Modern English
English
smock-frock
“a loose outer garment, especially worn for work or as a simple dress”