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PEA COAT
SAILORS WHO HAVE TO ENDURE PEA-SOUP WEATHER OFTEN
DON THEIR PEA COATS BUT THE COAT’S NAME ISN’T
DERIVED FROM THE WEATHER.
THE HEAVY TOP COAT WORN IN COLD, MISERABLE WEATHER
BY SEAFARING MEN WAS ONCE TAILORED FROM PILOT
CLOTH - A HEAVY, COARSE, STOUT KIND OF TWILLED
BLUE CLOTH WITH THE NAP ON ONE SIDE.
THE CLOTH
WAS SOMETIMES CALLED P-CLOTH FOR THE INITIAL LETTER
OF THE WORD AND THE GARMENT MADE FROM IT WAS CALLED
A P-JACKET - LATER A PEA COAT. THE TERM HAS BEEN
USED SINCE 1723 TO DENOTE COATS MADE FROM THAT
CLOTH.
9-28
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