tailcoat

or tail coat

[ teyl-koht ]

noun

1. a fitted coat, typically worn by a man, cut away over the hips and descending in a pair of tapering skirts behind, usually black and worn as part of full evening dress.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tailcoat¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Purple-faced Mr. Cranston on his feet, half strangled by his collar, miserable in his spanking new tailcoat with the too-long sleeves.

From Literature

I love how Siriano is all in low-key black — he’s the background! — but nonetheless looks very chic in what I think is a sleeves-pushed-up tailcoat.

From Seattle Times

They will be co-educational, unlike Eton, and the students will not wear the traditional Eton uniform of a black tailcoat, the spokesperson said.

From BBC

Based on this photo, we can assume that young Willy appreciated a velvet tailcoat, and wasn’t afraid to mix prints.

From Seattle Times

He pulls a saw out of his long tailcoat.

From Literature