Overcoat

An overcoat is a type of long coat intended to be worn as the outermost garment, which usually extends below the knee.

In many countries, coats and gowns reaching below the knee have been worn for centuries, often for formal uses, establishing either social status or as part of a professional or military uniform.

In the Western world, the general profile of overcoats has remained largely unchanged for a long time.

In the 19th century, such a coat was part of a soldier's military uniform, to be worn whilst on watch (guard duty), hence the term watchcoat.

[1] A covert coat is a gentleman's overcoat typically with notched lapels which originated in the late 19th century as a "short topcoat" to be worn for hunting and horse riding.