watch-coat

English

Noun

watch-coat (plural watch-coats)

  1. (dated) Alternative spelling of watchcoat.
    • 1864 [1719], Daniel Defoe, The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner[1], Knight and Son:
      In the middle of this I had my tent always standing, being a piece of a sail spread over poles, set up for that purpose, and which never wanted any repair or renewing; and under this I had made me a squab or couch, with the skins of the creatures I had killed, and with other soft things; and a blanket laid on them, such as belonged to our sea-bedding, which I had saved, and a great watch-coat to cover me; and here, whenever I had occasion to be absent from my chief seat, I took up my country habitation. [] I resolved, the next morning, to set out with the first of the tide, and reposing myself for the night in my canoe, under the great watch-coat I mentioned, I launched out. I first made a little out to sea, full north, till I began to feel the benefit of the current, which set eastward, and which carried me at a great rate; []