[f. COAT sb. q.v. for forms.]
1. trans. To provide with a coat; to clothe in a coat; to dress, clothe.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. III. 138. Heo Copeþ þe Comissarie and Coteþ þe Clerkes.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxiii. (1617), 377. That their Images should be well painted, and wel coated.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. liii. (1612), 238. Scarse will their Studies stipend them, their wiues, and Children cote.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 192. Nurses … erre while they too soon Coat feebler Infants.
1798. Southey, Lyric P., Compl. Poor. We were wrapt and coated well.
fig. 1599. H. Holland, Wks. R. Greenham, Ep. Ded., One of which [books] coated and attired (in the best manner that I can) … here I doe … humbly present.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. ii. (1865), 15. I longed to new coat him in russia.
2. To cover with a surface layer or coating (or with successive layers) of any substance, as paint, tar, tinfoil, etc.; also predicated of the substance covering the surface.
1753. Franklin, Lett., Wks. 1840, V. 299. Leaf tin … is best to coat them [electrical jars] with.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 83. The Dutch preserve their … Sluices, &c. by coating them over with a Mixture of Pitch and Tar.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 18. 124. The granite was now coated with lichens.
1860. Tennent, Story Guns (1864), 227. The idea of coating ships with armour.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 65. Layers of ice … coating a white snowy central mass.
† 3. To place in one’s coat of arms; to assume as a heraldic bearing. Obs.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, E viij b. Constantine the great did Coat a double-headed-Aigle.
