Etymology

pea jacket

Today it means: A short woollen overcoat, originally as worn by sailors; a pea coat. Full definition →

First used 18th c.Dutch pijjakker
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The story

  1. Dutch · borrowed frompijjakker
  2. English todaypea jacket

Probably from Dutch pijjakker, from pij (“coat of coarse cloth, cowl”) + jekker (“jacket”). Compare also later pea coat.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 18th c. A short woollen overcoat, originally as worn by sailors; a pea coat.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.