References
- ↑ "I. Marc Carlson: Glossary of some medieval clothing terms". Archived from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
- ↑ History of women's costume during the Renaissance Archived from the original
The cotte (or cote) was a medieval outer garment, a long sleeved shift, or tunic, usually girded, and worn by men and women. In medieval texts, it was used to translate tunica or chiton . Synonyms included tunic or gown. It was worn over a shirt ( chemise ), and a sleeveless surcote could be worn over it. By the sixteenth century, it had become a woman's undergarment. By the seventeenth century, it split into an upper 'corps' and a lower 'cotte', or skirt, amongst the poorer classes. [1] [2]
In modern French, it survives in the expression cotte de mailles ("chainmail"). The Old French cote also gave rise to the word cotillon ("cotillion", a dance). Petticoat is another indirect descendant of cote.
