subs. (old).—1. See quots: specifically a lady’s riding habit with buttons to the skirts. In American (thieves’) a patched coat. Cf. BENJAMIN, and for synonyms, see CAPELLA.
1671. R. HEAD, The English Rogue, i. v. 48 (1874). JOSEPH, A Cloak.
1688. SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia, ii. in Wks. (1720), 4. Who’s here? my father? Lolpoop, Lolpoop, hide me; give me my JOSEPH.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. JOSEPH, a Cloak or Coat. A Rum JOSEPH, a good Cloak or Coat. A Queer JOSEPH, a coarse ord’nary Cloak or Coat; also an old or tattered one.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 12. JOSEPH, a close coat.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1766. GOLDSMITH, The Vicar of Wakefield, xvi. Olivia would be drawn as an Amazon … dressed in a green JOSEPH.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. JOSEPH, a woman’s great coat.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1818. S. E. FERRIER, Marriage, viii. Another held up a tartan cloak, with a hood; and a third thrust forward a dark cloth JOSEPH, lined with flannel.
1823. G. KENT, Modern Flash Dictionary, s.v.
1825. NEAL, Brother Jonathan, III. xxvii. So as to betray, with every swing of her body, the rich dress, underneath her JOSEPH.
1847. ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, p. 62. ‘Well, by gunflints,’ says he ’ef you ain’t makin’ a JOSEY.’
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. JOSEPH. A coat that’s patched.
2. (colloquial).—A woman-proof male. TO WEAR JOSEPH’S COAT = to defy temptation, as Joseph with Potiphar’s wife.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. JOSEPH.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. JOSEPH’S COAT. ‘It’s of no use trying, he WEARS A JOSEPH’S COAT.’
1870. Reynolds’s Newspaper, 6 Feb. You appear to have been a regular Joseph.
NOT FOR JOSEPH, phr. (common).—A contemptuous refusal; a sarcastic dissent: cf. ALL MY EYE.
1844. C. SELBY, London by Night, ii. 1. Jack. Who’s to pay? Ned. Whichever you please. Jack. Oh! in that case you may as well settle it. Ned. Not for JOSEPH! You asked me to tea.
c. 1867. Broadside Ballad, ‘Not for Joe.’ NOT FOR JOE … NOT FOR JOSEPH, if he knows it.
JOSEPH’S-COAT, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A coat of many colours; a dress of honour.
1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads, ‘The Rhyme of the Three Captains.’ They ha’ rigged him a JOSEPH’S JURY-COAT to keep his honour warm.
