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.

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.

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.

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

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.

A surcoat, or surcote, was an outer garment commonly worn in the Middle Ages by men. About 100 years later, women started to wear surcoats. [1] It can either mean a coat worn over other garments or the outer garment commonly worn over armour.

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.

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.

Feb 22, 2023 · A surcoat was an outer garment commonly worn by soldiers during the Middle Ages in Western Europe. It was worn over armor to show insignia and help identify what side the soldier was on. The men's surcoat was a long, flowing coat that was usually emblazoned with personal arms, while women's surcoat was a floor-length garment with exaggerated ...

My name is Sofia and I'm addicted to hand sewing. I make historical garments and focus on Northern Europe, ca. 1200 - 1500. Everything is hand stitched with period techniques. Extant garments and medieval illustrations are my main source of information and inspiration, together with academic research papers and archaeological reports.