undercoat

[ uhn-der-koht ]

noun

1. a coat or jacket worn under another.
2. Zoology. a growth of short fur or hair lying beneath a longer growth.
3. an undercoating.
4. a coat of paint or the like applied under the finishing coat.
5. a paint, sealer, or the like specially prepared for use underneath a finishing coat.

verb (used with object)

1. to apply an undercoating to.

undercoat

/ ˈʌndəˌkəʊt /

noun

1. a coat of paint or other substance applied before the top coat
2. a coat worn under an overcoat
3. zoology another name for underfur
4. the US name for underseal

verb

1. tr to apply an undercoat to (a surface)

Word History and Origins

Origin of undercoat¹

First recorded in 1640–50; under- + coat

Example Sentences

“It is thought that double coats can also help the animal stay cool in hot temperatures as the undercoat usually stands upright and may allow improved air flow closer to the skin,” said DeMel.

From Los Angeles Times

Prized for their thick undercoats, the dogs were sheared like sheep and often kept in pens or on islands to carefully manage their breeding and to care for the canines' health and vitality.

From Science Daily

Like the Sto:lo, many Coast Salish groups in the Pacific Northwest have oral traditions recollecting dogs whose coiled undercoats were spun into fibers and woven into elaborately patterned blankets.

From Science Magazine

In fact, Fleegle says a white-tailed deer’s undercoat is thicker than sheep wool.

From Washington Post

However, it can be helpful to regularly remove the undercoat, the hair that lies closer to the body, by brushing.

From Scientific American