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Frock has been used sinceMiddle English as the name for an article ofclothing, typicallycoat-like, for men and women.
InBritish English and inCommonwealth countries the word may be used as an alternative term for a girl's or woman'sdress, in particular for a dress suitable for a smart occasion but (in UK English usage) with a hemline higher than a full-length ballgown. InAustralia it is frequently used this way, with the phrase "to frock up" meaning to wear a formal dress or gown for a special occasion.[1]
Relatedly, afrock coat is a men'scoat style of the 19th century, characterized by full skirts reaching to the lower thigh or knee. Despite the similarity in the name, thefrock coat should be regarded as being a distinct garment quite separate from the frock. In the French language thefrock coat is called 'une redingote' (from English "riding coat"), and so, unlike the English term, implies no immediate relationship to the frock which is called 'une fraque'. Indeed, the modern French word for a tail coat is "un frac" which better betrays the historical relationship between the tail coat and the frock. In construction thefrock coat could scarcely be more different from the frock for unlike the latter it is usually double breasted, lacks any pockets, lacks a high collar, has V-shaped lapels, is closely fitted and is constructed with a waist seam.
Originally, afrock was a loose, long garment with wide, fullsleeves, such as thehabit of amonk orpriest, commonly belted. (This is the origin of the modern termdefrock or unfrock, meaning "to eject from thepriesthood".)
Throughout theearly modern period, "frock" continually applied to various types of clothing, but generally denoting a loosely fitted garment in practice seemingly ranging in styles from resembling abanyan to atunic.
From the 16th century to the early 20th century,frock was applied to a woman'sdress orgown, in the fashion of the day, often indicating an unfitted, comfortable garment for wear in the house, or (later) a light overdress worn with aslip or underdress.
From the 17th century on, afrock was a thigh- or full-length loose outer garment worn byshepherds, workmen, and farm workers inGreat Britain, generally of heavylinen with a broad flatcollar, now usually called asmock-frock. In some areas, this traditional frock buttons up the front in the manner of acoat, while in others it is a pullover style.
As such, afrock remains a dense knitted overgarment worn bysailors andfishermen, asguernsey frock,jersey frock (now usually simplyguernsey andjersey).
In 18th centuryBritain and theUnited States, afrock was an unfitted men's coat forhunting or other country pursuits, with a broad, flat collar, derived from the traditional working-class frock.
The precise historical evolution of the frock after the second half of the 18th century is obscure, as is its contrasting features to thejustaucorps, the evening wear dress coat, and the supplanting 19th centuryfrock coat.
Some late in the 18th century versions had it made with a cutaway front without a waist seam. This may have been one of the predecessors of thefrock coat or at least the dress coat with horizontally cutaway fronts worn for daytime wear by the early 19th century and from which the modern-day evening wear taildress coat forwhite tie is derived. The frock coat in turn became cut away into the modernmorning coat, giving us the two modern version oftail coats, but the evolution is blurry. Notwithstanding, it seems as if the frock was gradually supplanted by the frock coat in the early 19th century, whereas the former frock style was relegated to evening wear.
Shapewise, also thegreat coat may similarly be historically derived from the frock[who?] as it similarly is single breasted, with a high and broad collar, waist pockets, and also lacked a waist seam early in its history as can be seen in an example[which?] in theVictoria and Albert Museum,London.
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In contemporary times, a "frock" may still designate a woman's or girl's, or child's dress or light overdress.[2][3]
