A surcoat or surcote is an outer garment that was commonly worn in the Middle Ages by soldiers. It was worn over armor to show insignia and help identify what side the soldier was on. In the battlefield the surcoat was also helpful with keeping the sun off the soldier and their armor which helped prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Among these was the surcoat, a simple yet significant garment that held both practical and symbolic importance. This article delves into the origins, evolution, and significance of the surcoat, examining its multifaceted role in the medieval world.

Surcoat, sleeved or sleeveless outer garment worn by European men and women during the 13th and 14th centuries. The surcoat for men was usually a tunic, or simple piece of material with a hole for the head, often worn over armour. For women, the …

The meaning of SURCOAT is an outer coat or cloak; specifically : a tunic worn over armor.

Apr 9, 2025 · surcoat (plural surcoats) A loose sleeveless garment worn over a suit of armor, sometimes colored or embroidered with the wearer's coat of arms. 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 165: The Lord mayor and sheriff ride in their armour with surcoats of crimson.

Waffenrock (also German: Waffenkleid; English: surcoat or tunic) was originally a medieval German term for an outer garment, [1] worn by knights over their armor. [2]

Mar 3, 2023 · Surcoats are longer and sleeveless, and were worn as a fashionable item for both men and women. Tabards are shorter and square-shaped, and were primarily used for heraldic display by knights and other members of the nobility. Despite their differences, surcoats and tabards have some similarities.

The long, sleeveless outer garment that Western Europeans commonly wore during the Middle Ages was called a surcoat. Pictures of medieval knights often show them with loose surcoats over their armor.

The Surcoat – Identifying the Knight's Armor. The military surcoat entered service in the early years of the 13th century. The first English king who appears wearing this garment, as shown on his Great Seal, was King John, who reigned between 1199-1216.

Surcoat. The Surcoat originated as an important identifying part of the medieval knight’s battlefield dress. It was a long garment worn above all the armor and dress of the knight. The specific purpose it served was to identify the knight on the battlefield.