Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A long, coarse cloak or frock worn especially by Jews during the Middle Ages.
  • noun Chiefly British A laborer's long loose smock.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See gabardine.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun See gabardine.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A long cloak.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a loose coverall (coat or frock) reaching down to the ankles

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Obsolete French gauvardine, from Old French galvardine, perhaps from Middle High German wallevart, pilgrimage : wallen, to roam (from Old High German wallōn; see wel- in Indo-European roots) + vart, journey (from Old High German, from faran, to go; see per- in Indo-European roots).]

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Examples

  • [82] A gaberdine is a shaggy cloak of coarse but warm materials.

    The Odyssey of Homer 750? BC-650? BC Homer 1765

  • Only yesterday my year 7s were falling about watching two of their number lying on the floor in front of the whiteboard, fooling about under a "gaberdine".

    Culture | guardian.co.uk 2010

  • It's not Seasonal Affective Disorder or anything, just that the new year always feels like a gaberdine raincoat that's far too big and baggy and I wallow around in it for a while feeling all wrong, out of step and in danger of tripping over all day long.

    Harbingers 2008

  • I didn't grow much until I was about fourteen by which time it was still functioning as a mini gaberdine raincoat as per the fashion and with the belt buckled around the back as you did.

    Harbingers 2008

  • I was bought a navy gaberdine raincoat when I was about six with plenty of room to grow into.

    Harbingers 2008

  • I was bought a navy gaberdine raincoat when I was about six with plenty of room to grow into.

    Harbingers 2008

  • I didn't grow much until I was about fourteen by which time it was still functioning as a mini gaberdine raincoat as per the fashion and with the belt buckled around the back as you did.

    Harbingers 2008

  • It's not Seasonal Affective Disorder or anything, just that the new year always feels like a gaberdine raincoat that's far too big and baggy and I wallow around in it for a while feeling all wrong, out of step and in danger of tripping over all day long.

    Harbingers 2008

  • I held it in my arms: a nightshirt, nightcap, and slippers, pantaloons and gaberdine, a skullcap, gloves, and overshoes—all in the order in which they would be required.

    Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man’s Smile Gyles Brandreth 2009

  • I held it in my arms: a nightshirt, nightcap, and slippers, pantaloons and gaberdine, a skullcap, gloves, and overshoes—all in the order in which they would be required.

    Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man’s Smile Gyles Brandreth 2009

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