Coat of Anns
Preserved but no longer current.
Originally, a surcoat worn by knights over their armour, decorated with devices by which the wearer could be described and recognized; hence the heraldic device of a family. The practice of bearing on the armour or its covering some distinguishing mark is of very ancient date.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Coat of Anns” mean?
Originally, a surcoat worn by knights over their armour, decorated with devices by which the wearer could be described and recognized; hence the heraldic device of a family. The practice of bearing on the armour or its covering some distinguishing mark is of very ancient date.
Is “Coat of Anns” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.