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Where did the pea coat get it's name?
PEA
COAT SAILORS WHO HAVE TO ENDURE PEA-SOUP WEATHER
OFTEN DON THEIR PEA COATS BUT THE COAT’S NAME
ISN’T DERIVED FROM THE WEATHER.
THE HEAVY TOP COAT WORN IN COLD, MISERABLE WEATHER
BY SEAFARING MEN WAS ONCE TAILORED FROM PILOT
CLOTH - A HEAVY, COARSE, STOUT KIND OF TWILLED BLUE
CLOTH WITH THE NAP ON ONE SIDE. THE CLOTH WAS
SOMETIMES CALLED P-CLOTH FOR THE INITIAL LETTER OF
THE WORD AND THE GARMENT MADE FROM IT WAS CALLED A
P-JACKET - LATER A PEA COAT.
THE
TERM HAS BEEN USED SINCE 1723 TO DENOTE COATS MADE
FROM THAT CLOTH. |
