redcoat
UK[ˈredkəʊt]US[ˈredkoʊt]
n
A British soldier, especially during the American Revolutionary War, who wore a distinctive red uniform.
Morpheme Breakdown
red
coat
red
color
coat
garment
Etymology
The term is a transparent English compound, formed by directly combining the color descriptor "red" with the item of clothing "coat." It originated as a colloquial, descriptive nickname used by American colonists to refer to the British infantrymen, whose standard-issue uniform included a bright red coat. This metonymic use, where a piece of clothing stands for the person wearing it, created a vivid and enduring historical label. The logic is purely descriptive, with no deeper etymological evolution from classical roots, reflecting its origin in 18th-century American vernacular.
Analysis
Structure: red (color) + coat (garment)
- red: From Old English rēad, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch rood and German rot. It functions as an adjective describing a color.
- coat: From Old French cote, of ultimate Germanic origin. It functions as a noun denoting an outer garment.
Examples
The painting depicted a line of redcoats firing at colonial militiamen.
Stories of the redcoats marching into their village were passed down through generations.
In historical reenactments, he always plays the part of a British redcoat.