Meaning of monkey jacket | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A type of close-fitting jacket worn by sailors.
   dated
2. A semiformal lightweight jacket, usually made of nylon, with striped cuffs and neck, similar to an MA-1 flight jacket.
3. A hospital gown.
   US, slang

Equivalents

Examples

“You bully boys of Liverpool, I'll have you to beware, When you sail on them packet ships, no dungaree jumpers wear; But have a big monkey jacket all ready to your hand, For there blows some cold nor'westers on the Banks of Newfoundland.”

“We were fain to button up our monkey jackets, and hold to our lips cups of scalding tea with our half frozen fingers.”

“We did not even possess "two coats apiece" - our ordinary costume being waterproof monkey jackets, sailor hats with puggarees twined round them, and some simple white muslin or fresh cotton dresses.”

CEFR level