from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mail \Mail\ (m[=a]l), n. [OE. maile, maille, F. maille a ring of
mail, mesh, network, a coat of mail, fr. L. macula spot, a
mesh of a net. Cf. {Macle}, {Macula}, {Mascle}.]
1. A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was
used especially for defensive armor. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
{Chain mail}, {Coat of mail}. See under {Chain}, and {Coat}.
[1913 Webster]
2. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Naut.) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing
off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Zool.) Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the
scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
[1913 Webster]
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet mail.
--Gay.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Coat \Coat\ (k[=o]t; 110), n. [OF. cote, F. cotte, petticoat,
cotte d'armes coat of arms, cotte de mailles coat of mail,
LL. cota, cotta, tunic, prob. of German origin; cf. OHG.
chozzo coarse mantle, G. klotze, D. kot, hut, E. cot. Cf.
{Cot} a hut.]
1. An outer garment fitting the upper part of the body;
especially, such a garment worn by men.
[1913 Webster]
Let each
His adamantine coat gird well. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. A petticoat. [Obs.] "A child in coats." --Locke.
[1913 Webster]
3. The habit or vesture of an order of men, indicating the
order or office; cloth.
[1913 Webster]
Men of his coat should be minding their prayers.
--Swift.
[1913 Webster]
She was sought by spirits of richest coat. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. An external covering like a garment, as fur, skin, wool,
husk, or bark; as, the horses coats were sleek.
[1913 Webster]
Fruit of all kinds, in coat
Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk, or shell.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
5. A layer of any substance covering another; a cover; a
tegument; as, the coats of the eye; the coats of an onion;
a coat of tar or varnish.
[1913 Webster]
6. Same as Coat of arms. See below.
[1913 Webster]
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
7. A coat card. See below. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Here's a trick of discarded cards of us! We were
ranked with coats as long as old master lived.
--Massinger.
[1913 Webster]
{Coat armor}. See under {Armor}.
{Coat of arms} (Her.), a translation of the French cotte
d'armes, a garment of light material worn over the armor
in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was often charged
with the heraldic bearings of the wearer. Hence, an
heraldic achievement; the bearings of any person, taken
together.
{Coat card}, a card bearing a coated figure; the king, queen,
or knave of playing cards. "`I am a coat card indeed.'
`Then thou must needs be a knave, for thou art neither
king nor queen.'" --Rowley.
{Coat link}, a pair of buttons or studs joined by a link, to
hold together the lappels of a double-breasted coat; or a
button with a loop for a single-breasted coat.
{Coat of mail}, a defensive garment of chain mail. See {Chain
mail}, under {Chain}.
{Mast coat} (Naut.), a piece of canvas nailed around a mast,
where it passes through the deck, to prevent water from
getting below.
{Sail coat} (Naut.), a canvas cover laced over furled sails,
and the like, to keep them dry and clean.
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Coat of mail
the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning "glittering" (1 Sam.
17:5, 38). The same word in the plural form is translated
"habergeons" in 2 Chr. 26:14 and Neh. 4:16. The "harness" (1
Kings 22:34), "breastplate" (Isa. 59:17), and "brigandine" (Jer.
46:4), were probably also corselets or coats of mail. (See {ARMOUR}.)