monkey jacket

American  

noun

1. a short, close-fitting jacket or coat, formerly worn by sailors.

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monkey jacket British  

noun

1. a short close-fitting jacket, esp a waist-length jacket similar to a mess jacket

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Etymology

Origin of monkey jacket

First recorded in 1820–30; so called from its resemblance to a jacket worn by an organ-grinder's monkey

Example Sentences

Still another belt encircled me, and, though I had come up warmly clad in woolen shirts and monkey jacket, I felt these garments being torn away from me.

From The Grain Ship by Robertson, Morgan

‘He’s got on the hat and monkey jacket he always wears.’

From Will Weatherhelm The Yarn of an Old Sailor by Webb, Archibald

Sometimes, however, they only made sport of his appearance; especially one evening, when his monkey jacket being wet through, he was obliged to mount one of his swallow-tailed coats.

From Redburn. His First Voyage by Melville, Herman

Captain Davy wore a monkey jacket; Mrs. Quiggin colored slightly.

From Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon by Caine, Hall, Sir

I produced the roll of lint at once from the pocket of my monkey jacket.

From The Ghost Ship A Mystery of the Sea by Austin, Henry