Thecotte (orcote) was a medieval outer garment, a long sleeved shift, ortunic, usually girded, and worn by men and women. In medieval texts, it was used to translatetunica orchiton. Synonyms includedtunic orgown. It was worn over a shirt (chemise), and a sleevelesssurcote 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 modernFrench, it survives in the expressioncotte de mailles ("chainmail"). TheOld Frenchcote also gave rise to the wordcotillon ("cotillion", a dance).Petticoat is another indirect descendant ofcote.
