Forms: 4 surkot, (sorcot), 4–7 (9) surcote, 5 surkote, -cotte, (ser-, syrcote, 5–6 circot(e, 6 circotte, erron. surcourt), 7 surcoate, 8 -koat, 7– surcoat. [a. OF. sur-, sor-, sour-, sircot (also -cote): see SUR- and COAT sb. Cf. Pr. sobrecot, It. sopraccotta, sorcotto.
MLG., MSw. sorcot, MDu. sorcote, ONorw., MHG. surkot, med.L. sor-, surcotium are from Fr.]
1. An outer coat or garment, commonly of rich material, worn by people of rank of both sexes; often worn by armed men over their armor, and having the heraldic arms depicted on it.
As part of the insignia of orders, etc., the surcoat is now a short sleeveless garment of crimson velvet worn with a mantle.
a. 1330. Syr Degarre, 791. He hadde on a sorcot ouert, I-forred with blaundeuer apert.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 62. His surkot semed hym wel, þat softe was forred.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 617. A long surcote of pers vpon he hade.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3252. A duches dereworthily dyghte … In a surcott of sylke fulle selkouthely hewede.
1457. Cov. Leet Bk., 299. & there folowed then mony moo ladyes yn her mantels, surcotes & other appareyll to theyre astates acustumed.
1494. in Househ. Ord. (1790), 120. On New-Yeares day, the King ought to weare his kirtle, his circote, and his pane of armes.
1562. Legh, Armory (1597), 96. Gentlewomen vnder the degree of a countesse, haue armes on Taberts, but the countesse and so vpwards shal haue their Armes in surcotes and mantels.
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, II. xxiii. Upon his Surcote, valiant Nevil bore A Silver Saltoyre.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 110. The hole Colledge of Heralds mounted on horseback, in their rich Surcoats.
1805. Southey, Madoc, I. xv. Embroider’d surcoats and emblazon’d shields.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., V. ix. III. 263. They were all in light armour, with red surcoats.
1885. C. W. C. Oman, Art of War, 42. The colour of bannerole, crest, and surcoat was that of the regimental standard.
1911. Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson, iii. 32 The heavy mantle of blue velvet,… the crimson surcoat [of the Garter].
attrib. a. 1400. Octouian, 1180. Sche … yn hys ryght hond left … Her surkot sleue.
2. An undershirt, vest, semmit. Sc.
Perh. associated with sarkit, ‘a kind of short shirt, or blouse’ (Banffsh. Gloss., 1866).
1768. Song, in Ross, Helenore, 132. A surkoat hough side [i.e., reaching to the thigh].
