1.
down coat (long winter coat insulated with down)
A long winter coat insulated with down feathers, typically reaching to the hip or knee. Distinguished from a shorter ダウンジャケット (down jacket).
ダウンコート is a wasei-eigo compound ("down" + "coat") for a long winter coat insulated with down feathers. It is a staple of winter wardrobes in Japan, especially in colder regions like Hokkaido and Tohoku.
Common collocations
- ダウンコートを着る: to wear a down coat
- ダウンコートを脱ぐ: to take off a down coat
- ダウンコートを羽織る: to throw on a down coat over one's shoulders
- ダウンコートをクリーニングに出す: to take a down coat to the dry cleaner
- 厚手のダウンコート: a thick down coat
- ロングダウンコート: long down coat
Similar words
- ダウンジャケット: down jacket — shorter (waist or hip length)
- ダウンベスト: down vest — sleeveless
- コート: coat (general)
- 防寒コート: winter coat (literally "cold-protection coat")
Usage
- The distinction between ダウンコート (longer) and ダウンジャケット (shorter) is real but not strictly enforced — many speakers use them interchangeably for casual reference.
- Dry-cleaning a ダウンコート typically requires a specialty service due to the down filling.